FPA Pro Bono Serving the Military Training

4.83 (6 votes)

This training has been created to help financial planners understand the characteristics, benefits and unique issues faced by the military and veterans’ community. It refreshes and refocuses on the basics of how to provide pro bono services to members of the community who have served or are currently serving in the military and the unique situations where planners can serve. The training is designed to give CFP® professionals a basic understanding of this unique community and the skills and techniques to address the specific needs of people in the military while preparing for pro bono engagements.

Demonstrate how a planner can develop a relationship of honesty and trust by interacting with the military and veteran community
Apply active listening skills when communicating with the military and veteran community
Identify how to get involved in helping others who typically may not engage a financial planner
Define the practice and scope of pro bono financial planning
Recognize the attributes of pro bono financial planning clients and understand how to assist them

Competency Level: Foundational
FPA Competency: Advance the Financial Planning Profession
CFP Board Topic: General Financial Planning Principles
CFP Board CE Credit Hours: 1

John R. (Dick) Power, CFP®

Colonel John R. (Dick) Power, CFP^® served as a US Army Signal Corps officer for thirty years with tours in Germany, Vietnam and Saudi Arabia as well as across the U.S. For most of that career he was a leader in acquisition of electronic systems for the Army, retiring as a Colonel in 1992 while serving as the Inspector General for the Massachusetts National Guard. He now is a sole practitioner in his own Registered Investment Advisory and financial planning firm, Power Plans, in Walpole, MA. Dick has been conducting his own practice since 1992 and has been a CFP since 1993. After retiring from the Army, he also worked at GTE (before its merger with Bell Atlantic to form Verizon) as Director of Total Quality for the Government Systems Group and later as corporate-wide program manager for information security. Colonel Power served on FPA's board of directors and works closely with the Massachusetts National Guard, having helped organize the pro bono program to support military families and continues to serve as needed. He has been a leader in military financial planning and has assisted several chapters in organizing their programs to support troops.