A Look at NCEF with Board of Trustees President Danielle Seurkamp

Danielle Seurkamp, CFP^®, shares the latest news about the NAPFA Consumer Education Foundation (NCEF). Seurkamp, president of NCEF’s board of trustees, is the founder of Well Spent Wealth Planning, a contributor for Forbes, and a former member of NAPFA’s board of directors. A lifelong volunteer, she created a pro bono program for people in Cincinnati who are transitioning out of homelessness.

When you recently started your term as president of NCEF’s board of trustees, what were some of the first things you noticed?

What stood out to me was the growing energy and momentum around pro bono financial planning across the profession and NAPFA members’ desire to find new ways to donate their time and talent. It was very encouraging to see NAPFA’s leadership make pro bono planning a part of the association’s new strategic plan. NAPFA members are generous by nature, and we need to find new ways to serve communities that we often can’t serve in our day-to-day work.

What challenges has NCEF encountered, and how have you and the board been addressing them?

Building Homes for Heroes, one of NCEF’s long-standing programs, provides financial guidance to young veterans who have been gifted homes. It has been a successful program, but it requires a long-term commitment that has been a barrier for many volunteers. We are actively working to provide an array of opportunities requiring smaller time commitments in the hope that we can bring more volunteers into the fold.

What new programs are on the horizon?

The foundation recently began focusing on ways to help individuals between the ages of 14 and 35. To that end, we hope to pilot a program this year at four universities that have campus wellness centers. NAPFA advisors will be paired with a student advisor in the school’s financial planning program as a mentor to help them with the pro bono advice they give the public. We expect this to benefit the consumer and the student, as well as raise the profile of Fee-Only planning at the university level.

Additionally, we are developing a program for members to provide one-on-one guidance to families who are in the college selection process. In one brief session, we can meaningfully improve the outcome for parents and students who are making one of the most significant financial decisions of their lives.

How does the NCEF board develop new program opportunities?

We are open to supporting existing organizations as well as piloting new programs. While we periodically survey the landscape to look for existing programs, particularly those driven by NAPFA members, we aren’t always aware of what members are doing. I encourage members to reach out to us if they have an initiative that would benefit from the foundation’s support or if they have an idea for a new program.

How do these new opportunities help NCEF and its mission?

Our foundation is unique because we have a dual mandate: help consumers and support the future of NAPFA. These new programs will put NAPFA in front of future financial planners and future consumers of financial planning in a way that we haven’t been before. We’re also intentionally intervening at an earlier stage in life. As planners, we understand the time value of money and the immense impact we can have by instilling good behaviors early on.

What do you and the board see as some key areas for NCEF’s growth?

Currently, the primary focus is raising awareness of the foundation and increasing engagement with our members. NAPFA has grown significantly over the past several years at a time when the foundation has been in transition. We are actively developing programs and grants so that it becomes easier for members to see how their involvement can directly support the public and our association.

Where do you see NCEF being in a few years?

In a few years from now, my hope is that NAPFA members think about the foundation first when they are seeking ways to give back. Whether members want to support scholarships, mentor young professionals, or provide pro bono advice to the public, NCEF will provide an avenue to do that.

Any final thoughts?

We are now an association of several thousand members, so our ability to make an impact is stronger now than ever before. Your support means we can offer more conference scholarships, pilot more programs, provide more resources to consumers, and amplify NAPFA’s public profile. I hope you’ll take a few minutes to check out what we’re up to and how you can help.

NCEF is always looking for your help. If you would like to donate to support its mission, learn more about NCEF, or become a volunteer, please visit NAPFA.org/NCEF. Add your name to NCEF’s growing list of volunteers!

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