It’s time to consider pro bono advice and the benefits for you and your health

By Natalie Kleibert, Deputy Chair, Pro Bono Financial Advice Network

Pro bono financial advice sounds like a good thing to get involved in. Using the same skills you use in your everyday job as a financial adviser to help people in need, but not expect anything in return, is indeed a great way to contribute to the greater good. But what if there are other powerful benefits to generously providing your time and expertise through pro bono work, such as improved mental health, a renewed passion for your career, and that giving your time can give you time?

Recent studies have shown the positive consequences of generosity for givers. Generosity has especially strong associations with psychological health and wellbeing; such as greater quality of life, greater vitality, and self esteem. Volunteering one’s time and expertise may also change how people view the world, making them value cooperation, interdependence, and their own good fortune. Doing good for others who need help provides a natural sense of accomplishment and a sense of pride. The better you feel about yourself, the more likely you are to have a positive view of life and your future goals.

Financial advice is a career that is dedicated to helping people. The numbers and spreadsheets are usually the easy part. The gratification is that you are building relationships, helping human to human. For the most part, your business proposition is likely focused on a certain cohort or demographic within the community, in which you have experience or specialty; which is great for business and building a strong reputation. Working within different communities, such as the MS community that PFAN supports, exposes you to new perspectives, issues, and challenges that may be remote from your experience. This is a great way to build awareness around the diversity of human experience and need. It can also stretch your thinking to more creatively hone your expertise across areas such as communication and the process of advice delivery. Putting a fresh viewpoint on how your skills can benefit others can help bring additional meaning and purpose to your life, and reignite your passion for financial advice.

Common questions around getting involved in pro bono work centre around how much time does it really involve? After all, just finding a happy balance between ‘normal’ work and life is a challenge for many. While the actual time that people have in a day cannot be increased (everyone gets 24 hours!), interesting research has found that people’s subjective sense of time affluence can be increased when spending time on others. This research compared spending time on other people with wasting time, spending time on oneself, and even gaining a ‘windfall’ of free time. It found that spending time on others makes people feel highly effective and capable. That same duration of time is perceived as longer when more has been accomplished, when it is ‘fuller’. So, spending time helping others, may make you feel like you have done a lot with your time – and the more you feel you have done with your time, the more time you feel you have.

We think it’s time you consider pro bono advice. And the time you need to devote to helping need not be onerous. Just taking on one case a year will make a life-changing difference to a person in need, and many advisers taking on one case a year helps a whole community.

For example, Australia’s multiple sclerosis (MS) community is in need. Every week, 10 people are diagnosed with MS, three in four are women and the average age is between 20 and 40 years old. Some of these individuals are not able to afford or access the valuable benefits that financial advice delivers. That’s why Pro Bono Financial Advice Network is dedicated to helping connect these individuals with the dedicated and generous advisers in our network who give their time to help.

Join us and our mission to improve the financial wellbeing of Australians living with MS through providing pro bono financial advice. The more advisers we have as part of PFAN, the more communities we will be able to serve.

REFERENCES

Mogilner,C.,Chance, Z., & Norton, M. (2012), Giving time gives you time, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania; Yale School of Management, Yale University.

Allen, S. (2018), The Science of Generosity, Berkeley University The Greater Good Science Centre

Natalie Kleibert

Deputy Chair, Pro Bono Financial Advice Network

Giving your time and expertise to help people in need

By Nicola Beswick, Chair, Pro Bono Financial Advice Network

Giving to charity does not always have to be about giving money to an organization.  It can be about giving your time and expertise to those less fortunate.  This is what the Pro Bono Financial Advice Network (PFAN) is about.

At this year’s AFA conference, I talked about a lovely lady I assisted who came to me through the Network.   Her story highlights the small difference we can make, as advisers, to change people’s lives.

I met Laura in late April 2021. She had completed our request for help form with the basics as her multiple sclerosis (MS) impacts her ability to concentrate on one task at a time.

Like any client, we spent around an hour talking about her situation.  Laura got in contact with us because she was running out of money fast. For a range of factors including COVID, and her MS Laura had struggled to find a job. Knowing she needed money, Laura had taken two lots of $10,000 out of superannuation to help meet the basics. Laura confessed to me that although she knew it wasn’t ideal, but she had no other choice.  

Laura lived in a home she built and moved into two months after her MS diagnosis. She was using her Centrelink payments to fund her mortgage repayments, but the burden was getting real. She wanted advice around whether she should sell her home or not.  Her savings had disappeared. She told me how much she was beginning to hate her house.

Our conversation went along these lines:

“What is your mortgage balance, how much do you think the home would be worth?” The answer – not a lot of equity. If she sold, she would never be able to purchase another home.

“Tell me about your superannuation…” “I have around $40,000”… “Do you have any insurances?” – Laura’s answer. Nope, I don’t have any. “That’s ok – do you mind sending me a statement and signing an authority to enquire on your account for you”. “Sure, ok.”

She sent me her statement, which was around 12 months old. The statement noted a TPD policy for an amount that would pay off her mortgage and leave a residual amount to assist her with her living.

Laura had no idea, and I didn’t want to get her hopes up until I had confirmed this directly. A few weeks later, we confirmed the insurance was still active.

Our next meeting, went along these lines:

“I’ve done some investigating on your superannuation, and you have an insurance policy.”

“The amount of cover you have will enable to you pay off your mortgage, so you don’t have to sell your home.

This is going to help change your life!”

I share this story to highlight the importance of what we do as advisers by guiding others through some of the most emotionally daunting times in their lives, and especially if they’re impacted by a serious illness.

Someone in this position is unlikely to seek financial advice because they are afraid of the cost of obtaining advice. And they may not be aware of programs such as PFAN which offer access to advice, and more often than not, deliver real financial benefits. If Laura had not gotten in touch, she would have eventually lost the insurance policy, most likely would have sold (or lost) her house, and detrimentally impacted her future without even knowing it.

I approached Laura as I do with any other client. All processes and procedures were the same as my typical day to day work.  However, one of Laura’s MS symptoms is chronic fatigue, which impacts her ability to concentrate.  I ensured everything we discussed was confirmed back to her in an email, like I do already,  but with one small difference. I  broke the process and communications down into smaller bite-sized chunks to make it easier to assist with our conversations and progress.  I also provided simple explanations of concepts that sometimes we may forget our clients do not understand. 

Many advisers know that sometimes the assistance you provide your clients is not that complex. It can be going through the basics and making sure people know where to start. It can also be complex given life’s uncertainties, challenges and changes. The financial planning profession is about the people it serves and their lives. Expert guidance, compassion and support is what we deliver on the job every day. Pro bono advice is simply doing what we do every day without expecting anything in return.

It’s easy to get involved. You can help by taking on just one case a year. That’s one person’s life you are changing. Multiply this by all the  advisers in the PFAN program, and that’s a significant difference we can collectively contribute to the community.


Nicola Beswick

Chair, Pro Bono Financial Advice Network and Senior Financial Adviser at FMD Financial

Helping those in need transform their lives

By Niall McConville, Director, Pro Bono Financial Advice Network

This has been challenging for many Australians, particularly for those suffering financial hardship resulting from a personal health crisis or the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on our economy.

In many instances, people faced with health challenges are having to make important financial decisions at an extremely emotional time. Now more than ever, as those economic and financial effects impact increasing numbers of Australians, the support of financial advisers can play an invaluable role in helping people navigate the challenges of 2020 and improve the course of many people’s lives. Unfortunately not everyone has the same access to financial advice, which is why the Pro Bono Financial Advice Network (PFAN) was formed – helping connect advisers willing to provide pro-bono financial advice to those experiencing financial hardship triggered by a personal health crisis.

PFAN is an industry wide collaboration, and the organisation works with local communities and associations to offer financial support to those who need it most. The Pro Bono Network has a particularly strong partnership with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Limited, supporting people living with MS and their families with financial guidance as they work through their diagnosis and subsequent health journey.

To give but one example of the meaningful difference PFAN can make, a single 63-year-old mum suffering with MS was worried she would lose her Centrelink Pension – her only source of income.

Through PFAN, an adviser was able to prepare an advice document, so she was able to receive a higher level of income, and create a plan to maximise her superannuation contributions, and assist her son with purchasing a property.

It’s important work, but PFAN support also goes beyond providing people with a no-cost service to plan ahead; the true value lies in helping disadvantaged members of the community access financial advice in general. The program is an opportunity for advisers to help people living with a health or disability issue to take control of one important aspect of their lives – their finances.

Not only does participating in the PFAN program leave advisers feeling a sense of fulfilment through positively impacting the lives of people living with MS  and their families, it also reinforces the value that advisers deliver to the community. With more advisers supporting PFAN, local awareness and appreciation for the value of the guidance that financial advisers provide rises too.

Advisers have a strong platform to make a positive impact on the lives of those who need help but aren’t able to access or afford it. They can play a big part in helping those people to build confidence in their own financial decision-making.

Whether it be a quick discussion, some simple information or in-depth financial advice, advisers’ support is needed for the individuals and communities impacted by both health complications and financial hardship. The personal and professional benefits of providing pro bono financial advice are endless, and, for me personally, I feel grateful to have been involved with PFAN over the past few years and now as a Director on the Board.

It’s incredibly rewarding to see over 150 advisers put their hand up to volunteer and provide their services to help those less fortunate in times of need. If every adviser in Australia who has the capacity or wants to do more pro bono work saw one client a year with PFAN, that would make a huge difference. I encourage you to get involved.

As an advice community, I believe we can do more to give back where we can, and to ensure more Australians are getting tailored financial support that is appropriate to their circumstances.

To make a gift of your personal expertise is immensely empowering.

August, 2020 

Niall McConville

TAL General Manager of Retail Distribution & Board Director of the Pro Bono Financial Advice Network

Giving back. Why to consider it as part of your business.

About me and my journey

My Dad was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) at the age of 55. While dealing with the devastating diagnosis and an uncertain future, Dad discovered he was eligible to receive an income protection payout. That discovery changed the course of his life and mine. 

I realised how important it is to educate people about the often-complex world of finance. Because the smallest changes can make the most significant difference. I said goodbye to my nearly 10-year career in intellectual property law, and I committed to helping people plan for a financially secure future. 

I have now been in the financial planning industry for just over seven years.  During these seven years, I have time learning from many various professionals in conjunction with many years of industry-specific study. I have completed my Certified Financial Planner®, Accredited Aged Care Professional™, and SMSF Specialist Advisor™ qualifications. And if that wasn’t enough, I am currently undertaking a Master of Financial Planning (thanks FASEA!).

My Dad’s MS Journey

It took Dad’s medical team years to settle on a diagnosis because Dad didn’t fit into ‘the box’ of those who are commonly diagnosed with MS. 

Dad’s symptoms manifested in his inability to use his right arm. Dad, like most of us, is right-handed. Take a moment to think about all the things you do with your dominant hand – the everyday things in life you don’t give much thought to like writing, shaving, getting dressed, doing your shoelaces…the list goes on.  All these things became a challenge for him. 

As Dad’s MS got worse, he was unable to use a lot of his right side. The positive news is that since that early deterioration, Dad’s MS has remained dormant. Others aren’t so fortunate, with their deterioration concentrated over a short time. The nature of this insidious disease means that no one knows how or when they will be impacted. There is no cure for MS, so all you can do is control the symptoms with an array of drugs.

Giving back to the community through the Pro-bono Advice Network

My experience with my Dad not only changed my career direction; it inspired me to look at the bigger picture and find other ways to assist the 25,600 plus Australians living with MS through both fundraising and advocacy.  

I started providing pro bono financial advice to individuals and families going through a health crisis first as a member, and now a Board Director of the Pro Bono Financial Advice Network (PFAN).   I have also been honoured to be collaborating with PFAN’s Board and the MS Educational Team to prepare and present a series of webinars targeted to individuals with MS, their carers and their families, about the benefit of obtaining financial advice. Following my Dad’s diagnosis, that the events that surround his journey, this is and always will be a cause very close to my heart. 

The webinars’ purpose is to highlight to the MS community the value and benefit of consulting with a financial adviser to ensure adequate current and future financial plans are in place. Using real-life examples of individuals that came directly from the MS Connect Support team, the webinars explained the role and scope of a financial adviser, outlining how an adviser assisted the individual in the example provided.

Two of the many case examples include:

I am 45 years old, I had been diagnosed with MS about 15 years ago, it has been a slow progression up to now, and I had to cut back on my work. My two kids are in their late teens. I am a single mother, my ex-husband is not involved with the children or me.  I am finding that I can no longer work as I make mistakes and cannot stand.

I was let go three months ago after ten years of working in insurance; I am 55 years old.  Even though I am “looking for work”, I know I cannot hold on to a job, my memory is just not there anymore.  I live with my wife, who works and also is my carer.  I feel like I am not contributing, and that is a problem for me.

While these are only basic pieces of information, we developed fictional financial situations to show the difference a financial planner can make to someone’s long-term position. Such as outlining the insurances someone has within their superannuation and how a successful claim on these can materially improve their ongoing cash flow, or what strategies can be employed to maximise someone’s Disability Support Pension payments.

Some success stories

There have been so many positive experiences through the work I do with the MS community.

I’ve had the privilege to provide pro-bono advice to a 63-year-old lady whose primary concern was the loss of her Centrelink Pension, and what had been her only source of income for many years. The loss was as a result of an inheritance from her late mother.  As her MS impacted her attention span, all concepts had to be explained slowly and in basic terms. Fortunately, her son had financial power of attorney and was able to assist in all decision-making processes. I prepared an advice document to invest her funds to receive a higher income and mapped out how to maximise her superannuation contributions over time.

Another example is a couple with two teenage children.  They were after an understanding of their overall position. The husband had been living with MS for around seven years and had recently reduced his working commitments. His wife, a self-employed bookkeeper, managed the family finances. I prepared a roadmap of their current position, the timeframe around repaying their small outstanding mortgage and provided an overview of their superannuation and insurances for their future understanding (should the need arise). This provided much-needed comfort to them, as they gained security and peace of mind around where they were headed.

Conclusion

These are only two of the countless people I’ve met along my journey so far.  However, this work a privilege. Not only has it equipped me with a deeper understanding of financial planning, but it has also given me a humbling sense of perspective. To reiterate an article recently written my fellow PFAN board member, Niall McConville, giving back to the community provides a sense of fulfilment through positively impacting the lives of others and their families. It also helps increase the positive value that obtaining financial advice provides within the community, further expanding an appreciation for the work we all do. I encourage you all to consider joining PFAN. It’s a beautiful way to support those, at a time when they need support the most.