Become a Volunteer

CFP® professionals and others, including public representatives, contribute to our leadership and governance as members of the Board of Directors. The Board is the policymaking and oversight body responsible for providing strategic leadership and furthering CFP Board’s mission. Each spring, nominations open for one or more positions on the Board.

Volunteers from the academic community, directors of CFP Board-Registered financial planning education programs and certification experts serve on our Council on Education, which provides input on policies that relate to CFP Board-Registered Programs, Continuing Education Sponsors, Review Course Providers and the Model Curriculum.

Through the Center for Financial Planning, CFP® professionals and other volunteers on our Women’s Initiative (“WIN”) Council and Diversity Council serve advisory roles in support of our work to advance a more diverse and inclusive financial planning profession, and WIN Advocates work in their communities to get the word out that financial planning can be a rewarding career for women.

The development of the Center for Financial Planning and its programs is made possible through the support of volunteers who serve advisory roles and participate in fundraising initiatives.

Volunteers play an essential role in CFP Board’s peer-review process for reviewing alleged violations of the Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct. The Disciplinary and Ethics Commission (DEC) interprets and applies the Code and Standards to specific fact situations and determines the appropriate outcome, with the input of Hearing Panel Volunteers who assist with disciplinary hearings. Service as a Hearing Panel Volunteer is a prerequisite to service as a DEC member.

Volunteers on our Public Policy Council serve an advisory role on public policy issues affecting CFP Board, our certificants and members of the public. The Council includes at least two CFP® professionals and two members of the Board of Directors, as well as public members who do not provide financial planning services, brokerage services and/or investment advisory services to clients.

CFP® professionals on our Council on Examinations serve as primary subject matter experts for the CFP® Exam and serve an advisory role regarding the development, administration and scoring of the exam. Other CFP® professional volunteers work with the Council on Examinations to review questions and cases for upcoming exam administrations.

Volunteers on the Center for Financial Planning’s Scholarship Review Panel review candidate applications for various scholarships that support individuals on the path to CFP® certification.

The CFP Mentor Program is a CFP® Exam preparation resource that connects aspiring candidates with an experienced CFP® professional. Mentors offer their support as accountability partners, sharing study strategies while providing unique insights from their experiences preparing for and successfully passing the CFP® Exam..

CFP® professionals and other volunteers serve advisory roles in support of the Center for Financial Planning’s work to attract and develop the next generation of financial planners, and participate in initiatives to strengthen the profession’s talent pipeline.

Volunteering to provide pro bono financial planning helps people take control of their financial lives and has a positive impact on individuals, families and communities — and elevates and enriches the financial planning profession. Pro bono volunteer hours may count toward the Experience requirement for initial CFP® certification, and pro bono training programs may be eligible for Continuing Education (CE) credit.