Expanding Financial Education and Planning Opportunities Through Service-Learning

Abstract

Many individuals assert that in order for the field of financial planning to continue to expand its reach, influence, and recognition as a profession, pro bono efforts should be reinforced, expanded, and promoted. Current students in financial planning programs will be called upon to continue the pro bono efforts now underway and lead the profession through a paradigm shift toward a greater appreciation for pro bono work. For those students who have participated in Service Learning (S-L) projects relating to financial planning while in school, pro bono work will not be a new concept. This paper examines the impact a S-L activity has on students’ planned participation in, and organizing of, pro bono activities as financial planning professionals. Data was collected from a sample of 66 student participants who were studying financial planning and enrolled in courses that had significant S-L requirements (approximately 20 hours of service with 20 hours of preparation). Using a pre- and post-treatment design, results indicated statistically significant change in students’ intentions to participate and organize pro bono activities as professionals.

Keywords: Financial Education, Pro bono Financial Planning, Finance Pedagogy, Service Learning, Experiential Learning, Pro Social Motivation, Public Service Motivation, Tax Planning, Income Tax Filing, VITA

JEL Classification: A22, A23, D03, D14, D31, H24, I26, M40