InFRE information

[Guest Quiet Man]

Can anyone give me information about InFRE, the International Foundation for Retirement Education? They're offering to grandfather people into the organization, but I haven't heard of it before, so I don't know whehter it's worthwhile.

[GBurns]

As far as I can see it is just another item for salesmen of financial products and some benefits related jobs to use to try and get more credibility (read sales or job status).

As far as benefit to the consumer, the others set up for marketing and promotion that have preceded this one have had no benefit and possibly detrement to the consumer, so I guess it all depends on whether you are seeking something of benefit to the consumer or whether you are seeking something of benefit to you in making sales or padding your resume.

The annuity and LTC marketers have been successful in using these designations to spur interest among sales people, the worksite marketers are now trying, so I guess one should expect the 401(k) types to follow suit. They all need to boost sales and since the consumer is not responding sufficiently to direct response marketing, the only avenue left is to try and spur sales by creating new enthusiasm among the sales force and related job positions.

The older CSA, CFP etc etc have become too popular and many consumers have now learned the hard way that they meant nothing and provided nothing extra in the way of competence, better products etc etc.

If you thing that you need this to help you to make more sales then that is your decision to make.

If you think that there is something that you can learn by doing their "exam" or whatever else is required, then there might be some personal value, but, I notice both your and their interest in "grandfathering". I always suspect anyone who has an easy way to collect my fee.

By the way, Have you read their material or even checked their website???

[Guest Quiet Man]

I did check their Web site, but there was nothing there is the way of hard data (like membership information), so that was why I wanted to post here.

[GBurns]

I too loked at their website and found that it is loaded will all relevant info plus.

Why would you want membership? Why would membership be necessary?

It is a certification/degignation not a social club. It is no different from LUTCF or CLU, you pay your fee, you get your study materials, you study, you pass the exam and get the designation, you use the designation to your advantage. Nothing more.

What were you expectibg, tea parties?

[Guest Quiet Man]

Perhaps I am not as adept as you in gleaning information from Web sites. I appreciate your response.

[Guest rmeigs]

Quiet Man:

It is a pretty good organization with a broad range of representation from some pretty big plan sponsors and retirement groups. If I remember correctly, it is a joint venture of NAGDCA and the Texas Tech University Center for Financial Responsibility. Their focus is on retirement education.

Try the following link for member and committee information:

http://www.infre.org/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/...521f+1054783404