The work of CFP Board benefits greatly from the contributions of CFP® professionals and other stakeholders, and there are many opportunities for CFP® certificants and others to become involved with CFP Board in meaningful and rewarding ways. If you decide to volunteer for one or more of these activities, please understand that some of these opportunities are served in terms, and others will add you to a database where you may be selected as opportunities arise. If you have questions or comments, please e-mail volunteer@CFPBoard.org.

• Board of Directors
• Council on Education
• Council on Examinations
• Exam Development Opportunities
• Disciplinary and Ethics Commission
• Public Policy Council
• Public Outreach Speakers
• Expectations of Board, Council and Commission Members

Submit an Online Volunteer Registration Form >

Board of Directors

The Opportunity
CFP Board is seeking candidates for Board Director for the period beginning in 2010. Board Directors, as members of the strategic governing body of the organization, have a significant opportunity to help lead the organization to effectively meet the needs of the stakeholders of the organization and further the benefits to the public by ensuring the CFP® certification is upheld as the recognized standard of excellence for personal financial planning.

Role of the Board of Directors
The Board of Directors, as the strategic governing body of the organization, is responsible for furthering CFP Board’s mission and acts on behalf of the public, CFP® certificants and other stakeholders. It is the policy-making and oversight body of Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., the independent certifying, standards setting, marks issuing and disciplinary body which owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and certification marks in the U.S. and regulates their use in the public interest.

Governance Philosophy
The Board of Directors operates under its bylaws and within the Policy Governance® model. This approach to the job of governing emphasizes values, vision, empowerment of both Board members and staff, and the strategic ability to direct leadership. Observing the principles of the Policy Governance® model, the Board crafts its values into policies. For more detailed information on Policy Governance® go to: www.carvergovernance.com/model.htm.

Responsibilities
Board Directors work with the Chair, the CEO and other Directors to provide strategic leadership for the CFP Board. Board Directors should be committed to attending Board and Committee meetings. The Board of Director has 3 regularly scheduled meetings each year in March, July and November. Board Directors are also assigned to at least one committee. The Board has Audit & Finance, Appeals, Governance and Nominating Committees. Committee meetings are generally scheduled by phone or around board meetings.

Competencies
Candidates for Board Director will demonstrate competency in such areas as: working collaboratively, productively and effectively as a group member; bringing a strategic, forward looking perspective; intellectual curiosity and innovative thinking; critical thinking; resiliency; personal accountability; leadership and organization and finance practices.

Term of Office and Board Composition
Board Directors serve a four-year term. A majority of Board Directors members must be CFP® certificants.

Application
Those interested in being considered as a Director on CFP Board's Board of Directors may obtain more detailed information on this opportunity by reviewing the Board Director Position Description and Candidate Specifications document, then downloading and printing the Board Director Volunteer Application Form. Completed forms may be sent to CFP Board by fax or mail.

Learn more about the current members of CFP Board's Board of Directors >

Council on Education

Role of the Council on Education
The Council on Education was established in 2008 to advise CFP Board staff on the development and clarification of all educational policies related to the CFP® certification process. The Council provides input on policies that relate to CFP Board-Registered Programs, Continuing Education Sponsors, Review Course Providers, and the Model Curriculum.

Composition and Terms of Office
The Council is composed of seven members and includes representatives from the academic community, directors of CFP Board-Registered financial planning education programs and certification experts. A majority of Council members must hold CFP® certification. Council members serve staggered terms of three years, and each year a Chair and Chair-designee are appointed.

Areas of Responsibility
Business conducted during Council on Education meetings includes discussion of policies that relate to CFP Board-Registered Programs, the Model Curriculum, Continuing Education Sponsors, Continuing Education requirements, Review Course Providers, the implementation of an education program Peer Review Process and other programs related to financial planning education.

To volunteer to serve on CFP Board's Council on Education, please submit an Online Volunteer Registration Form.

Learn more about the current members of CFP Board's Council on Education >

Council on Examinations

Role of the Council on Examinations
The Council on Examinations, formerly known as the Board of Examiners, is responsible for the CFP® Certification Examination. Generally, individuals selected to serve on the Council on Examinations have previously participated in other exam-related volunteer activities.

Composition and Terms of Office
This Council is composed of seven members and has typically included both financial planning practitioners and financial planning educators. All members of the Council on Examinations must be at least 18 years of age, and the majority of the Council must be CFP® certificants. Each member of the Council on Examinations normally serves a three-year term. A four-year term is possible if designated to the role of Chair in the third year. In selecting Council members, attention is paid to ensuring that the Council, as a whole, possesses the needed expertise and diversity within the 89 topics that comprise financial planning as defined by the most recent job analysis.

Areas of Responsibility
Business conducted during the "in-person" Council on Examinations meetings include discussion of relevant business issues, review of the upcoming CFP® Certification Examination and activities required to maintain and enhance the test question bank. In addition, Council members participate in three conference calls per year following each CFP® Certification Examination and other conference calls, as needed, to conduct CFP Board business.

Council on Examinations members are also encouraged to attend at least one additional activity per year. This could be the Program Directors Conference that is attended by directors and faculty of CFP Board-Registered Programs, or it could be a test-question item writing session or a test-question field test.

To volunteer to serve on CFP Board's Council on Examinations, please submit an Online Volunteer Registration Form.

Learn more about the current members of CFP Board's Council on Examinations >

Exam Development Volunteers

Exam Content Specialists

Volunteers selected to represent the demographics of the certificant population work alongside current Council on Examinations to review all the questions and cases proposed for the current exam to be given during the next test cycle. Volunteers work through the exam question by question and decide if questions are fair, appropriate, current and correct.

Case Review Committee

Volunteers are selected to serve on an ad hoc committee to review newly written cases submitted for purchase by CFP Board. The committee works with at least one Council on Examinations member who interprets the committee's comments to the author. The committee may also be asked to revise currently owned cases.

Item Writers

Volunteers are selected to serve on an ad hoc committee and will be trained to create multiple-choice questions to be submitted for use on future CFP® Certification Examinations.

Paired Review

Volunteers will be paired with a member of the Council on Examinations to evaluate test questions for future use, usually completed via conference call, or to edit or retire exam questions usually via conference call. This step of development makes the final determination whether an item is appropriate for the CFP® Certification Examination.

Pass Score and Job Analysis Committees

The Job Analysis Study is conducted approximately every five years, these ad hoc volunteer opportunities include the Job Analysis Committee creating a survey, then analyzing the survey and the Pass Score Committee taking an actual CFP® Certification Examination and contributing the necessary data required to set a pass score to be used as a benchmark until the next Job Analysis.

CFP® Certification Examination Field Test

Field tests of the newly written or revised test questions are held around the country to gather statistics and comments from current certificants. This is the first step of development following the writing or revision of CFP® Certification Examination questions. Volunteers take a mock exam and make judgments on the quality of each question, and the comments and statistics are recorded. The items or case then moves on to the next phase of exam development.

Submit an Online Volunteer Registration Form.

Disciplinary and Ethics Commission

Role of the Disciplinary and Ethics Commission
The Disciplinary and Ethics Commission, formerly known as the Board of Professional Review, is responsible for interpreting and applying the Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility, Rules of Conduct and Financial Planning Practice Standards to specific fact situations involving CFP® certificants and imposing, where necessary, the appropriate discipline.

Composition and Terms of Office
The Disciplinary and Ethics Commission is composed of up to nine full members. Members serve a four-year term.

Areas of Responsibility
Disciplinary and Ethics Commission members are expected to meet three times a year to conduct disciplinary hearings and to participate in business meetings to discuss issues relevant to CFP Board's disciplinary process. Commission members may also be required to participate in conference calls throughout the year, as scheduled. Materials related to disciplinary cases are sent two weeks prior to the hearing dates. Commission members are expected to review their respective case materials so that they are prepared to fully participate in hearings and Commission deliberations. The Disciplinary and Ethics Commission may make recommendations to the Board of Directors on issues related to professional review and the disciplinary process.

Learn more about the current members of CFP Board's Disciplinary and Ethics Commission >

Disciplinary and Ethics Commission Volunteers
The Disciplinary and Ethics Commission is always in need of CFP® certificants who are willing to volunteer their time to assist with the disciplinary hearings by serving on hearing panels. All volunteers are required to participate in a full-day orientation session, typically conducted the day before hearings begin, prior to participating in any hearings. Serving as a volunteer is a good way for CFP® certificants who are interested in serving on the Disciplinary and Ethics Commission as a voting member, to become acquainted with the disciplinary process and to be introduced to current Commission members. Moreover, participation as a volunteer is a prerequisite to obtaining a position with the Disciplinary and Ethics Commission.

To volunteer to work with CFP Board's Disciplinary and Ethics Commission by serving on hearing panels, please submit an Online Volunteer Registration Form.

Public Policy Council

Role of the Public Policy Council
The Public Policy Council serves an advisory role on public policy issues affecting CFP Board, its certificants and members of the public.

Composition and Terms of Office
This Council will be composed of up to eight members, including at least two CFP® certificants and two members of the Board of Directors. The remaining members of the Council may be “public” members, defined as individuals who do not provide financial planning services, brokerage services and/or investment advisory services to clients. A public member may include an individual who has expertise in public affairs, advocacy and lobbying; legislation and policymaking; and/or regulation and rulemaking. Members of the Public Policy Council will normally serve a three-year term. A four-year term is possible if designated to the role of Chair in the third year.

Areas of Responsibility
The Public Policy Council is expected to meet in person at least four times a year. Business conducted during the "in-person" meetings will include discussion of relevant business issues, identification of significant public policy issues, prioritization of issues, and development of policy position statements for consideration and adoption by CFP Board’s Board of Directors.

Learn more about the current members of CFP Board's Public Policy Council >

To volunteer to serve on CFP Board's Public Policy Council, please submit an Online Volunteer Registration Form.

Public Outreach Speakers

CFP Board works to inform and educate the public about the benefits of financial planning and to promote the CFP® certification as the recognized standard of excellence for personal financial planning. Periodically, opportunities are available for CFP® certificants to conduct educational presentations on financial planning topics at CFP Board-sponsored events and programs, or at events organized by other organizations that have requested assistance from CFP Board.

To volunteer as a public outreach speaker, please submit an Online Volunteer Registration Form. CFP Board will contact you when specific opportunities in your geographic region become available.

Expectations

What is Expected of Those Serving on the Board, Councils and Commission

• Each person selected to serve as a member of any Board, Council or Commission is required to complete a detailed Conflict of Interest Questionnaire and sign a Confidentiality Statement prior to service.
  
  
• Members are responsible for reading and considering a significant amount of material distributed prior to each in-person meeting.
  
  
• Members are expected to attend each meeting and be prepared to discuss all the issues on the agenda, and to make informed decisions.
  
  
• Members are expected to stay informed of the current business of their respective Board, Council or Commission and to be involved in its processes.
  
  
• Members are expected to read and respond as appropriate to mailings, fax and e-mail communications from CFP Board's office and other Board, Council or Commission members.
  
  
• Members represent CFP Board within their respective professions and communities; they are expected to remain in good standing in their respective communities.

The Board of Directors, Councils and Commission meet in person at least three times a year and by conference call, as needed. Board of Directors meetings usually begin on a Thursday and conclude with dinner Friday evening, with members of the Board returning home on Saturday. Council and Commission meetings generally include a Saturday meeting with members returning home on Sunday. CFP Board underwrites travel expenses in accordance with established policy.

Social occasions, such as dinners with other members, are scheduled and budgeted as an integral part of each meeting for the purpose of encouraging informal interaction and exchange of ideas among members and senior management. The benefits to CFP Board of these networking opportunities are great. For that reason, members should make every effort to take part in these events.

Because Board, Council and Commission members are chosen to serve, in part, based on their unique background and perspective, it is essential that each member be an active, full participant in the processes that are central to the role of the specific Board, Council or Commission. Because it is the purpose of CFP Board to serve the public interest, it is essential that each member commit to placing the public interest and the interests of CFP Board ahead of all other considerations which might motivate them to serve, and that each member continue to serve in that spirit.

If any of the duties and responsibilities of service are unclear now or during the term of service, it is the responsibility of the individual member to ask questions of the Chair of the Board or CEO of CFP Board in order to get the information required.