The winners in the four categories of the FPA Value of Advice Awards for 2009 were announced at the conclusion of the first day of the FPA’s National Conference in Melbourne.
The winners, announced by FPA Chair, Julie Berry, are:
Wealth Accumulation and Protection
- Peter Wilson: Strategic Wealth Management Solutions (Godfrey Pembroke) VIC
Pre-retirement Planning
- Paul Little: Landmark Financial Management (Apogee) QLD
Post-retirement Planning and Management
- Josef Stadler: PSK Financial Services (Charter Financial Planning)NSW
Pro bono Services
- Chris Craggs: Argurion Financial Group (Australian Financial Group Financial Planning) WA
The Awards were judged on:
- Excellence in engaging and listening to clients
- Identifying clients’ needs and goals
- Implementing an appropriate strategy
Ms Berry said there were 81 entries for this year’s Awards, which are in their fourth year. She encouraged CFP professionals to enter for the 2010 Awards and made special mention of the Pro Bono category, in which she felt many financial planners make a significant contribution.
As outlined in a previous riskinfo story, the Association advises the entries that scored highly this year displayed the following characteristics:
- Comprehensive discovery information, giving both financial and non-financial information so that a comprehensive understanding of the client was possible.
- Clear and transparent explanation of fees associated with advice (and, usually, associated investments products).
- Sensible, logical and appropriate strategies designed to specifically address client’s goals. The best entries identified an especially relevant strategy that resulted in benefits across the entire spectrum of client needs.
- Proactive and regular ongoing advice which not only reviewed the client’s existing strategy, but was also constantly on the lookout for ways to improve that strategy.
- The value of advice and the client benefits were clearly identified and the positive impact was significant.
