Volunteer
be A Life-Changer
Are you a financial industry professional or individual who has a deep understanding of personal finance and a moderate understanding of conflict-free, passive investing? Does mentoring young adults and changing financial futures forever interest you?
At 3rd Decade, mentoring is based on the premise that a Participant is resourceful yet may need assistance in finding creative solutions and support to advance their financial choices.
We rely on a network of amazing volunteer Financial Literacy Volunteers and Mentors to help support Participants as they navigate these important decisions around their financial futures through one-on-one mentoring and creating personalized financial plans and goals.
Is Financial Mentoring For You?
We’re searching for individuals who have a desire to be a life-changer and have some knowledge about:
- Financial Planning & Goal Setting
- Budgeting
- Debt & Money Management
- Risk Assessment (Insurance Coverage)
- Tax Rates
- Retirement Planning & Investing
- Estate Planning
Financial Mentoring is ideal for those who are active listeners and fully believe in 3rd Decade’s mission to change financial futures forever, starting now.
Strong preference is given to those already in financial management or related fields, but not required. Completion of initial self-paced Mentor Training is required (up to 5 hours).
The Mentoring Experience
By helping 3rd Decaders build their confidence, find accountability, and reduce stresses and anxieties related to personal finance (debt, budgeting, saving, etc.), they will often modify their own behaviors that can prevent them reaching their definition of success. They learn to build a sustainable spending plan, maintain progress (regularly monitor tasks and set up automations) avoid procrastination, and begin to focus their attention on achieving long-term financial security by growing their retirement savings.
Our Financial Mentors have helped 1,100+ Alumni increase their net worth over the 2-year mentoring relationship by an average of over $63,000! Learn about the mentoring relationship below.
Preparing for Your Journey
Months 0-2: Complete your application prior to the quarter you wish to begin your mentoring journey. We will get you onboarded and trained, providing you with all the support and resource you need to be the best Financial Mentor Possible.
Volunteer Hours Anticipated: 5-6
The Discovery Meeting
Months 3 – 5: A 2-hour meeting held upon the 3rd Decader’s completion of the 3rd Decade course curriculum, designed to help you build rapport, learn the 3rd Decader’s habits, attitudes, and relationships with money, review their current spending plan, and create personalized financial goals.
Volunteer Hours Anticipated: 3 per 3rd Decader Served
The Progress Meeting
Months 15-17: A 1-hour meeting designed to check in on progress made towards the 3rd Decader’s personalized financial goals, support adjustments as required, celebrate successes, work through challenges, answer questions, and provide education and resources.
Volunteer Hours Anticipated: 2 per 3rd Decader Served
The Final Meeting
Months 27-30: A final 1-hour meeting to celebrate the changes created and ensure the 3rd Decader is set up for success beyond the support of 3rd Decade mentorship.
Volunteer Hours Anticipated: 2 per 3rd Decader Served
Financial Mentor FAQ
How much training does 3rd Decade provide?
All volunteer Financial Mentors receive roughly 5-6 hours of online, self-paced training prior to working with 3rd Decaders.
When would I be working with Participants?
Our program operates on a quarterly basis, with Mentor/Participant meetings occurring over a 3-month period after the Participant’s completion of the 3rd Decade curriculum and annually for two years. For example, if you commit to partnering with 3 Participants from Quarter 1, you would hold 3 mentoring meetings (1 for each Participant) during March, April, and May. Please see below for a breakdown of Quarters and their coinciding meeting months.
- Quarter 1: Meetings are held in March, April, and May.
- Quarter 2: Meetings are held in June, July, and August.
- Quarter 3: Meetings are held in September, October, and November.
- Quarter 4: Meetings are held in December, January, and February.
Meetings are spread out over the course of 3 months to accommodate for availability as each Mentor will be working with 1-5 3rd Decaders per committed Quarter.
What am I committing to as a 3rd Decade Mentor?
As a 3rd Decade Mentor, you are committing to working with a minimum of one cohort and serving the same Participants throughout their time in the 2-year program. Your commitment totals 24 months beginning on a quarterly basis, with first-time Mentors receiving training over a two-month period as well. Mentors are encouraged to volunteer to serve more than one cohort per year. See below for a timeline breakdown of serving one cohort per year. Please keep in mind that Financial Mentors serve between 1-5 Participants per committed quarter.
What are the availability requirements to be a Financial Mentor?
- Volunteers must have access to a computer and reliable internet to conduct virtual meetings and trainings, as well as access resources and communication.
- Volunteers must be willing to provide availability for Participant meetings at least three days a week with a minimum of 2.5 hours available per day. Meetings can be held throughout the standard work hours (M-F, 7-5), evenings (M-F, 5-9), or weekends (Saturday & Sunday).
Who can I speak with to learn more about being a Financial Mentor?
Please feel free to contact 3rd Decade’s Director of Volunteer & Mentor Engagement, Megan Stiles, at [email protected] for more information. She will be more than happy to walk you through what volunteering with 3rd Decade looks like and if mentoring would be a good fit for you!
What does an ideal Financial Mentor look like?
Our ideal Financial Mentor…
- Is passionate about partnering with individuals to positively change their financial futures, through financial education, reinforcing beneficial financial habits and attitudes, increasing confidence in decision making, and empowering financial self-sufficiency.
- Understands securing the financial future of one individual with the vision of creating a new philanthropic generation has a ripple effect of change on a grander scale.
- Recognizes the importance of increasing trust in the financial industry and identifies with the relevance of mentoring under conflict-free, fiduciary standards.
- Is dedicated to bringing access to a potion of the financial industry to a population that is underserved, overlooked, or wouldn’t otherwise have access.
Don’t see your question listed? Ask below and we will get back to you just as soon as we possibly can.
