In Episode #13 of NAPFA Nation, Matt Iverson-Comelo, Executive Director of the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization Advisers Give Back (AGB), and Lisa Niera, CFP^®️, a Fee-Only wealth advisor with Corient, talk with podcast host Marie Swift about giving back through pro bono financial planning. Launched in 2020, AGB’s scalable online platform matches pro bono clients with pro bono Certified Financial Planning (CFP^®️) professionals for ongoing, one-on-one advice that helps clients build wealth and achieve their financial goals. The program was developed with noted behavioral economist Dan Ariely.

They discuss pro bono financial planning, as well as the benefits of giving back professionally. Niera shares experiences that she has had working with pro bono clients through the AGB platform. Impact metrics are provided.

In a nutshell, here’s what you’ll learn:

• The story behind Advisers Give Back and the problems are they trying to solve
• Success stories from a pro bono planner and the response from her firm
• How pro bono planning ties into DEI work
• What's next for Advisers Give Back

AGB has partnered with NAPFA to scale pro bono financial planning. The two organizations are on a mission to improve access to pro bono financial planning. With the goal of addressing the racial and gender wealth gaps, as well as the economic hardship brought on by the pandemic and other economic realities, AGB partners with organizations to reach underserved individuals. To learn more, visit: https://AdvisersGiveBack.org 

Lisa Niera, CFP®️, is a fee-only wealth advisor with Corient, one of the largest integrated Registered Investment Advisory firms in the United States. Corient’s 200+ partners and more than 1,300 colleagues manage billions of dollars, working as fiduciaries for more than 10,000 high- and ultra-high-net-worth clients. The firm’s institutional knowledge spans the full spectrum of planning, investing, lending and money management disciplines. Their unique partnership model was designed to foster professional collaboration aiming to deliver the highest level of excellence to our clients. Prior to joining Corient, Niera was with Fidelity Investments, and prior to that she was with AXA Advisors. Niera has completed NAPFA’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion program. NAPFA’s DEI Training and Certificate program aims to provide NAPFA members and other financial advisors resources and education around four specific DEI topics—culture, hiring practices, people, and inclusion. Learn more: https://www.napfa.org/napfa-dei-training-and-certificate-program.

Matt Iverson-Comelo is Executive Director of the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization Advisers Give Back (AGB).  The program targets clients with household incomes of $50,000 or less. While the project was in the works before the pandemic hit, Iverson-Comelo said COVID-19 accelerated the need for an online pro bono platform. The Black Lives Matter movement also drew more attention to the racial wealth gap, and the opportunities that advisors have to help level the playing field. To learn more about the origin of AGB, read this article from 2020 published by WealthManagement.com.