Pathfinder Wealth Consulting is proud to announce that John B. Zachary, CFP® has earned the Certified Retirement Counselor® (CRC®) certification conferred by the International Foundation for Retirement Education (InFRE).
John Zachary joined Pathfinder in 2009 and is a Wealth Advisor at the firm. He specializes in developing financial plans and investment strategies for rising star professionals and their families, and career-minded clients nearing retirement. Having obtained his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional designation in 2012, he has acquired extensive knowledge and experience in comprehensive financial planning. The CRC® certification was the logical next step.
“For me, of all the industry designations available, the Certified Retirement Counselor® program was the perfect blend of learning complex retirement planning concepts, honing my communication skills, and identifying behavioral finance issues,” Zachary said.
Earning the CRC® typically requires 75 to 100 hours of preparation before sitting for a four-hour exam. In addition, certificants must meet specific education and experience requirements. Each certificant must also adhere to the CRC® Code of Ethics and commit to 15 hours of annual continuing education.
“Education is a core tenant of our firm and John’s service to clients is rooted in helping them make educated decisions,” said Pathfinder CEO and Wealth Advisor, Jason Wheeler, CFP®, AIF®, CLU®, ChFC®. “John’s own professional education further exemplifies that core tenant and how a lifetime learner can continuously build on the value he brings to clients and our team. We’re not surprised, but certainly proud to see John’s latest accomplishment.”
The CRC® program uniquely enhances a professional’s understanding of retirement planning concepts and principles, while demonstrating their commitment to the retirement planning profession. The CRC® certification is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). Independent third-party “program” accreditation signifies that CRC® certificants are an elite group of qualified retirement professionals among the array of retirement-related designations available today.
“At Pathfinder, continuing education is not about getting enough credit hours to maintain our licenses and designations, it about what we like to call, ‘sharpening the saw.’” Zachary said. “If we are not continually learning and staying up to date on industry trends & concepts, we’re not fulfilling our duty to clients. It is our role to be a partner and a coach to clients—to help them talk through complex financial issues and educate them on the countless choices available. It’s about not always being the good guy but having the tough conversations when needed that are vital to financial success.”
For more information about retirement services provided through Pathfinder Wealth Consulting, email John Zachary at john@pathfinderwc.com, call 910.793.0616, or visit our website at www.pwcpath.com.