Mentoring Practices The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Laura Brook, Director of Community Development Financial Planning Association

MentorMatch: History Grassroots evolution Women & Finance community Manual process Positive feedback = MentorMatch task force Launched MentorMatch in August 2012

Getting Things Started – the Structure A six-month, coach-supported program. Membership is required for both mentors and mentees. There is no cost to participate. Matching is done online through HigherLogic’s MentorMatch module. 3

Getting Things Started – the Structure Mentees are limited to one mentor at a time. Mentees are expected to set the agenda and drive the relationship. Mentors just need to be responsive to their requests. 4

Getting Things Started – the Structure Each MentorMatch round includes an FPA-facilitated kick-off call, check- in call, and wrap-up call. Kick-off and wrap-up calls are held jointly. Check-ins are separate—one group call for mentees and one group call for mentors. 5

Getting Things Started – the Structure Mentees are required to fill out and share with their mentor five mentoring worksheets before their first call. This is to help mentees get clarity on what they want/need out of their mentoring relationship. 6

Getting Things Started – the Structure In the first call, mentors follow an initial discovery call checklist to get the relationship started on the right foot. From that point on, mentees are the ones to set the agenda. 7 Mentoring To-Dos

Getting Things Started – the Structure Mentees and mentors generally meet once per month via phone or Skype, although some relationships are in-person. Mentees complete an exit interview to rate their mentors and the program overall. Webinar archive on Mission Driven Volunteer p155xsx8lzv/ p155xsx8lzv/ 8

Getting Things Started – the Strategy Build your mentor database first Keep timing commitment clear and defined Have mentees power grassroots awareness and mentor recruitment 9

Getting Things Started – the Tools Mentoring Worksheets Initial Discovery Call Checklist Draft Mentee Letter Exit Interview Form 10

The Bad/Ugly What our Challenges Have Been to Date 11

The Bad/Ugly Time- consuming program to manage Getting people to match themselves Multi-step process Blending efforts with chapter initiatives Mentees sometimes showing up for calls unprepared 12

The Good Where the Program is Performing Well 13

The Good Members love it. Limited- time horizon The facilitated calls and initial discovery checklist helps mentors feel supported. (Even very experienced professionals can find it daunting to be a mentor!) 14 FPA

The Good The mentoring worksheets help give the mentees direction and focus. Mentors learn from mentees. These young planners are often fresh out of school and possess skill sets that are very different than our seasoned planners’ competencies. 15

The Good It engages tough- to- serve demographics — students, young professionals, and those who are mature members or already retired. Our profession needs it. Financial planning is young — it began only 45 years ago — and the career path for those who want to become planners can be challenging. 16

MentorMatch Demo To view FAQ, overview and an explanation of roles and responsibilities, go to 17

Laura Brook Director of Community Development