The Financial Planning Association (FPA) named has announced the rollout of a consumer-focused website as well as its annual award winners, including the first recipients of two new awards.
Each announcement was made at the recent FPA Professionals Congress in Perth where Tony Sandercock, owner and adviser of wetalkmoney in Queensland was named as the winner of the FPA Certified Financial Planner Professional of the Year Award.
Cody Harmon, an adviser with Meridian Wealth Management in Melbourne was named Associate Financial Planner of the Year while Cynthia Sercombe, Head of Advice at Tupicoffs, Brisbane was named as the winner of first ever FPA Paraplanner of the Year Award.
Also taking out a first time award was ipac Western Australia which won the first ever FPA Professional Practice of the Year Award
The FPA also recognised up and coming financial planners with two awards for university students with Bachelor of Commerce (majoring in Financial Planning and Finance) student Bradley Aleckson of Griffith University winning the FPA University Student of the Year Award.
Cameron Obliubek, from Bridges Financial Services in Melbourne, was named as the recipient of the Gwen Fletcher Memorial Award which recognises the highest performing student in the final unit of the CFP Certification Program.
The FPA also named Kathy Havers, from Catalyst Financial Group in Melbourne, as the winner of its Future2 Community Service Award for her work in supporting the growth of enterprise co-operatives in Aboriginal communities as well as for her support of a specialist schools for children with autism.
At the conference, the FPA also announced it would launch a website designed to help consumers manage their finances and improve their financial wellbeing.
The site – Money & Life – has yet to be launched, but the FPA stated it would provide up-to-date information, practical tips and real life stories to help readers build their financial literacy and if required seek an FPA member through the Association’s Find a Planner tool.
FPA Chief Executive, Dante De Gori said financial advice landscape was complex for many people and the site was a first step for those not yet ready to seek professional financial advice.
“We are deeply committed to raising consumer awareness on behalf of our members. This new initiative will deliver on our strategic priority to connect with consumers, and raise the level of trust in financial planners. Ultimately, we hope Money & Life will help grow the demand for financial planning in Australia,” De Gori said.
“For FPA members and other financial planning professionals, Money & Life will also offer content on strategy, practice management, professional and business growth, with exclusive features for FPA members. FPA members will also have the opportunity to submit content for the site and raise their profile as financial planning experts.
