Frequently Asked Questions

We hope the following information answers your questions about CFP Board's Financial Planning Clinic. If you have a question not answered here, please feel free to send your question to clinic@CFPBoard.org or call us at 800-487-1497.

• What should I bring to the Financial Planning Clinic?
• What is the dress code?
• Why am I not allowed to distribute business cards or marketing materials at the Clinic?
• What financial planning topics will I be discussing at the Clinic?
• How much time will I spend speaking with each attendee?
• How many consumers will I speak with at one time?
• How do I sign up as a candidate for media interviews?
• Will my expenses for volunteering be covered?

What should I bring to the Financial Planning Clinic?

You are welcome to bring a battery-powered calculator or laptop to the Clinic. CFP Board will provide you with a notepad and pen. CFP Board will provide breakfast, lunch and refreshments.

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What is the dress code?

Business casual attire is recommended.

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Why am I not allowed to distribute business cards or marketing materials at the Clinic?

CFP Board has organized the Financial Planning Clinic to increase public awareness of the importance of financial planning and offer pro-bono access to competent and ethical financial planning to those who would not otherwise seek it. We hope to educate consumers that financial planning is more than investment sales or an insurance policy, and to provide a starting point for those consumers who are intimidated at the thought of committing to an ongoing financial planning engagement. Attempting to form a planner-client relationship or attempting to sell any products or services during the Clinic would defeat the very purpose of the Clinic.

Although volunteers are not allowed to distribute business cards or marketing materials, each volunteer's name and contact information will be included in the Financial Planning Resource Booklet provided to attendees. Volunteer names will also be posted on CFP Board's Web site. So it is possible that someone you spoke with may contact you after the Clinic.

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What financial planning topics will I be discussing at the Clinic?

At the Clinic, volunteers will be seated at tables designated for specific financial planning topics, allowing attendees to choose a topic they are interested in and head to the appropriate table. After you complete and submit the Volunteer Application Form, a CFP Board representative will contact you to ask you what topics you are most interested in discussing with attendees. We understand that certain topics are more popular than others, and we will do our best to assign you to the table for the topic that you are most interested in discussing.

Attendees will be informed that all volunteers hold CFP® certification and are well-qualified to discuss a wide variety of financial topics. You are welcome to discuss with attendees any financial planning topics that you are comfortable discussing, even if those topics are not related to your assigned table.

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How much time will I spend speaking with each attendee?

To make the Financial Planning Clinic experience available to as many attendees as possible, we will ask both attendees and volunteers to limit their conversations to 15 minutes.

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How many consumers will I speak with at one time?

You will assist one individual, one couple or one individual family at a time. You will not be speaking to groups of individuals, families, couples, etc.; rather, you will assist people on a one-on-one basis. You will not need to prepare any presentation materials.

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How do I sign up as a candidate for media interviews?

If you are interested in speaking to the media about financial planning and the Financial Planning Clinic, please check the appropriate box in the Volunteer Application Form. The CFP Board representative who will contact you after your volunteer application has been submitted will provide additional details.

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Will my expenses for volunteering be covered?

CFP Board will provide breakfast, lunch and refreshments for volunteers during the Clinic, but will not cover other expenses, such as travel or lodging.

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