The AICPA launched an online database (
http://volunteers.aicpa.org/financialliteracy ) where CPAs now
can register as volunteers in 360 Degrees of Financial Literacy, the
Institute’s program to improve Americans’ ability to manage their
personal finances (see JofA , Aug.04, page 14, and www.aicpa.org/pubs/jofa/aug2004/special.htm
). Both member and nonmember CPAs are eligible to participate.
Those who sign up will receive information on the profession’s
national and state financial literacy activities as well as literature
for making presentations about the program. The Institute will contact
candidates whose geographic location, experience and areas of interest
match volunteering opportunities.
Members of the Florida Institute of Certified Public
Accountants (FICPA), some holding the Personal Financial Specialist
(PFS) credential, provided free financial counseling services by
phone—and, sometimes, in person—to those suffering losses caused by
recent hurricanes. The CPA volunteers helped victims—who had called
the FICPA’s hurricane help line at 800-342-3197—file insurance claims,
report casualty losses on income tax returns and plan cash flow.
Disaster Recovery: A Guide to Financial Issues, which the
AICPA and the National Endowment for Financial Education had prepared
for the American Red Cross (
www.redcross.org/services/disaster/beprepared/FinRecovery ), was
another source of information.
