Financial Recovery Institute: A permanent solution, a compassionate approach Since 1988, the Financial Recovery Institute has been a pioneer in the field of financial recovery, training professional counselors in a holistic approach to money management that is truly transformational. This approach and proven system is the only financial program that enables people to understand where they are, how they got there, how to change their financial circumstances and maintain a healthy relationship with money for the rest of their lives. Founded by Karen McCall, who developed the Financial Recovery process during her 20 years of private practice as a financial counselor, the Financial Recovery Institute teaches its counselors how to help clients identify, understand and eliminate self-defeating money patterns once and for all. It also provides specific money planning tools that empower people to create spending and savings plans that meet their unique needs and fully support their individual dreams and goals.