The FPA has announced the winners of its 2010 FPA Value of Advice Awards. The winners in each of the three categories are:
- Dennis Jones: Wealth Accumulation and Protection
- Charles Badenach: Pre-Retirement Planning
- Stephen Priestly: Post-Retirement Planning and Management
These awards recognise FPA members who display outstanding commitment to their clients and who deliver valuable financial advice. When nominating for the awards, members are required to submit a case study, which demonstrates how they added value to one of their clients.
Commenting to riskinfo about the Award and the approach his practice takes to providing advice, Mr Jones (Beacon Wealth – VIC) said, “We are very passionate about the issue of value from the client’s perspective. Most advisers do a fantastic job but we don’t communicate the intangible value of the job that we do very well. It’s good to have feedback [from customers] and it’s good for them to know we’re asking about value. What the FPA has done is give that a more structured framework,” said Mr Jones.
In winning the Pre-Retirement category Award, Mr Badenach (Shadforth Financial Group – TAS), said that one of the main reasons he decided to apply for the Award was to promote the good work that financial planners are doing. “I think as an industry we haven’t conveyed to the public the value of advice well enough. It’s important that we get the good news stories out there, so the public understands how we can help them.”
Within the Post-Retirement Planning and Management category, Mr Priestly (Professional Retirement Advice – NSW) said that the nomination process also reminded him to stop and reflect on the good work that financial planners do.
“When I was completing my application it reaffirmed the value that I had provided the client, which was quite a good thing for me to do. I didn’t really sit back and reflect on everything that I’d achieved for her [the client], and when I went back through what I’d actually done it was quite rewarding,” said Mr Priestly.
FPA CEO, Mark Rantall congratulated the three winners on their entries and noted the high level of professionalism they displayed.
“All entries we received were great case studies on how financial planners provide true value for their advice as well as peace of mind. The entries reflect the exceptional job our members do in providing advice to Australian consumers.”
“It is very exciting for the Association and the profession that we have so many dedicated professionals working above and beyond what clients expect,” said Mr Rantall.
