Western Australian adviser Steve Salvia has been crowned the 2010 AFA Adviser of the Year at a glittering function on the last night of this year’s AFA National Conference.
Mr Salvia (Southern Financial Strategies) is the winner of this highly-prized adviser award, sponsored since its inception by Zurich Financial Services, after having been one of the six finalists in the 2009 Award process.
AFA CEO, Richard Klipin, remarked to riskinfo about how the bar is raised every year in terms of the standards achieved by the finalists with regard to the quality of their businesses and the standards of service they provide to their clients.
Commenting on Mr Salvia in particular, Mr Klipin noted the progression in his business over the last twelve months, where the elevation of his business and client proposition to an even higher level has seen him achieve the deserved accolade of the 2010 AFA Adviser of the Year.
In accepting this recognition from his peers, Mr Salvia acknowledged his fellow finalists, those who have acted as his mentors in his sixteen years as a financial adviser, his business colleagues and the support of his family.
Mr Salvia also acknowledged the difficulties and challenges associated with being a financial services professional, faced by himself, his fellow finalists and all advisers, but said the effort was rewarded by the difference that advisers make to their clients’ lives in what is a ‘noble profession.’
In addition to Mr Salvia, the other finalists this year were:
- Chris Browne: (Vic) Financial Design for Life
- Jason Churchill: (Qld) CCS Insurance Solutions
- Jonathan Hoyle: (NSW) Stanford Brown
- Peter Nonnenmacher: (NSW) Macarthur Financial Planning
- Nicholas Sinclair: (Qld) Wealthfarm Financial Planners
The three advisers in the Highly Commended category, were:
- Marc Bineham: (NSW) Noall & Co
- Gerard Lowe: (Vic) Lowe Financial Group
- Paul Rawson: (NSW) Finance Control
Previous winners of this prestigious Award are:
- 2003:Bernie Toohey
- 2004: Brian Boggs
- 2005: Jim Taggart
- 2006: Troy Edmondson
- 2007: Philip Young
- 2008: Paul Daily and Adam Smith (joint winners)
- 2009: Graham Campbell
