Give Back! Volunteering with FPA's Pro Bono & Community Outreach
How Can We Help?
The Financial Planning Association® (FPA®) is dedicated to helping the less fortunate in our communities by providing free, objective financial planning services to eligible individuals and families through its pro bono program. These services will be delivered by members through partnerships between their FPA chapter and certain non-profit community-based organizations (CBOs).
What services are available?
Seminars and workshops via community-based organizations:
- Basic financial literacy
- Budgeting
- Debt management
- Understanding insurance
- Building savings
FPA volunteers provide unbiased financial advice with no sales or promotion of products or services. They do not sell products or services while engaged in pro bono activities.
Recruiting
If you are an FPA member interested in using your financial planning skills to serve our community, and in helping to coordinate these service opportunities, please email [email protected].
Current Organizations We Work With
As part of the FPA’s Financial Planning for Cancer Program, we have partnered with CENTS to provide pro bono financial planning to cancer patients and their families. As cancer costs have skyrocketed, physicians have begun to treat the severe financial distress associated with a cancer diagnosis as a new health problem in and of itself. This is known as “financial toxicity.” Your volunteer financial planning assistance will help ensure that patients and their families are prepared to manage their spending and debt to maintain a healthy financial situation during cancer treatment and beyond. Please get in touch to learn more about this opportunity.
Volunteer Opportunity The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the nonprofit CENTS are looking for volunteer financial planners to participate in a new study. This study aims to determine the impact of a three-month financial program given to cancer patients to help combat financial hardships. Unfortunately, it is well-documented that a cancer diagnosis adds ‘financial toxicity’ to patients’ already difficult journey.
The study hopes to identify and reduce these financial obstacles. As a financial planner, your involvement would directly help cancer patients gain financial stability and peace of mind.
Your responsibilities as a volunteer financial planner would include:
- Remotely connecting over the phone and/or online with a patient once a month for three months and guiding them with budget planning and financial management. CENTS estimates a grand total of 5 hours per patient.
- Fill out a short form from CENTS after each patient meeting.
- CENTS is asking planners to take on 3-4 patients over the course of a year (you can space them out to protect your work commitments).
- CENTS will provide training you can access at your convenience.
- You do not need to counsel on topics outside of your areas of expertise. If a patient needs other resources, you can notify CENTS and they will find services for them.
Testimonials
“My pro bono clients were so thankful every time I met with them. Relieving their stress and fear around their finances during this difficult time reminded me of why I do what I do.” -Rebecca Eckert, CFP® Professional, Pro Bono Volunteer
“Working with CENTS to provide pro bono financial planning has been a great experience. To be able to relieve even an ounce of stress while someone is undergoing cancer treatment is deeply fulfilling.” -Julia Tierney CFP® Professional, FPA Oregon and SW Washington Pro Bono Director
If you are interested in supporting this study or have any questions, please reach out to Tony Leahy ([email protected]). Thank you for your consideration!
Resources
The Foundation for Financial Planning has created a database where you can be matched up with pro bono opportunities nationally. https://probonoplannermatch.org/home
How can I get assistance?
Email us or call us at (503) 286-8350.
Get involved!
To get involved, contact Oregon & SW Washington FPA by clicking here. Provide us with your contact information and one of the committee members will contact you. Please review the FPA pro bono guidelines in the links below. These are documents that you will need to review and execute with a pro bono client during your consultation.
Lyndsi Stender, CFP® Pro Bono Director Email
FPA ProBono Guidelines
National FPA Pro Bono Program
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