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What is the Certificate in Retirement Strategy?

The Certificate in Retirement Strategy provides validation that you have the knowledge and skills to help your clients determine and meet their retirement planning goals. As baby boomers swell the ranks of the near-retired and retired, this certificate will enable you to distinguish yourself as an expert specifically qualified to address this burgeoning market and gain an edge over your peers.

What skills will you develop?

  • Deal with the special considerations faced by aging clients
  • Recommend tactics and financial products to convert assets into income to help support a client’s desired retirement lifestyle while minimizing the risk of outliving one’s wealth
  • Identify and recommend strategies to help minimize risks to a client’s wealth
  • Construct goal-based portfolios based on asset allocation and asset location strategies
  • Recommend strategies to minimize retirees taxes and protect wealth
  • Determine the efficacy of gifting to family members
  • Determine sustainable withdrawal rates to minimize longevity risk
  • In-depth knowledge in wealth conversion and sustainable withdrawal rates
  • Build a strong foundation in tax strategies and structures
  • Increased credibility as a retirement expert

What is the path to the Certificate in Retirement Strategy?

This certificate is also on the path to the CIWM designation.

With the restructuring of the CIWM designation, the pathway for CRS has changed. CSI will continue to recognize the historical pathway to CRS for those enrolled in the Advanced Retirement Management Strategies Course prior to May 8, 2019, and completing the course within their enrolment period. Since the launch of Retirement Planning for High Net Worth Clients on May 8, 2019, we are recognizing the new pathway.

New Pathway

Historical Pathway

Pre-requisite Requirements

Candidates must hold ANY of the following Financial Planning designations (PFP®, CFP®, Pl. F.) or the Wealth Management Essentials (WME®) Course or Foundations of Financial Planning (FOFP) Course. External Designation Recognitions are subject to CSI’s External Designation Recognition policy and fee.

View the Retirement Planning for High Net Worth Clients Course page for more information on the CRS Certification Exam.

Who Should Enrol?

The Certificate in Retirement Strategy is designed for individuals with experience in the financial services advisory professions such as investment advisors, financial advisors, financial planners and life insurance specialists, working within a securities firm, bank, or financial planning organization. These individuals aspire to gain a credential to reflect their specialization in retirement strategy advisory services for their clients.