Over 100 Certified Financial Planners descended on the Colorado Convention Center in Denver on Saturday to assist the general public with their financial planning needs. The event, sponsored by the Financial Planning Association, the Foundation for Financial Planning, Certified Financial Planning Board of Standards and the U.S. Conference of Mayors drew over 500 people looking to take advantage of the free financial planning advice.
Advisors consisted of specialists in the areas of tax, divorce, retirement, college funding, mortgages and credit counseling, among others.
"We've been able to match members of the public with advisors that can speak to their specific needs," says Karl Frank, president of A&I Financial Services and director of the Denver chapter of FPA. "All of the financial planning industry will benefit from what these professionals are doing here today."
Like doctors, lawyers, accountants and others, Frank says it increases the professionalism with which financial advisors are viewed. Actually, he adds, one could argue advisors are more important, because by doing their job, they'll determine the level of care that clients are able to afford from the other three.
Financial Planning Day was promoted and covered by the local television and radio media, as well as smaller community newspapers and local magazines. The Denver Post featured a full page article just prior to the event. Colorado State Treasurer Cary Kennedy, representatives of the Denver mayor's office and other dignitaries were also in attendance.
"I'm happy to see people are coming in and beginning the process by filling out our budgeting worksheet," Frank says. "Actually, we had so many people do so that we initially ran out."
Preparing for the Worst
After filling out the budget sheets, attendees were directed to volunteers who helped them select an advisor.
