Mr Ormsby is a financial adviser at O’Sullivan Financial based in Brisbane. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in Financial Planning and Finance which included a minor in Taxation at Griffith University. He is currently undertaking study for a Master of Financial Planning qualification.

Named after the late ‘First Lady of Financial Planning’, the award recognises the highest performing student in the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Certification Unit (CFP C) for each semester, with demonstrable dedication to providing high-quality financial advice. The CFP® designation is the largest and best-recognised financial planning designation globally.

Mr Ormsby said receiving the award is a proud moment in his professional journey, and will set him up for success during the next phase of his career.

“It’s incredibly rewarding and a little surreal to receive this honour. When I first learned about the award I was inspired by Gwen Fletcher’s impact on financial planning in Australia, which makes this recognition even more meaningful,” Mr Ormsby said.

“I would highly encourage anyone serious about a career in financial planning to pursue their CFP accreditation. It’s a challenging program, but incredibly rewarding. The depth of knowledge you gain, especially around strategy, ethics, and client engagement, really sets you up to deliver meaningful advice.”

David Sharpe CFP®, FAAA chair, applauded Mr Ormsby’s efforts during the program and acknowledged those that completed CFP certification this semester. 

“This is a fantastic achievement by David, and I particularly congratulate him on his ongoing commitment to the highest levels of education in financial planning.  Such commitment honours the legacy of Gwen Fletcher who was a pioneer in education for financial planners and who elevated our profession to another level,” Mr Sharpe said.

“Everyone who takes part in the CFP® Certification Program puts in a high degree of work and effort, so it has been a consistent challenge to select a recipient of the award each semester.

“David has demonstrated strong dedication and commitment to his studies, and on behalf of the FAAA, I congratulate him on reaching the highest level of professional certification in financial planning.”

The other financial advisers who successfully completed the CFP certification this semester alongside Mr Ormsby were: Katrina Dhu, David Selby, Erica Williams, Matthew Tsimos, Matthew Crick, Amber Dawson, Victor Idoko, Ling Feng, Eleanor Bagg, Sebastian Pfab, Rosie Bouton, Wen Chien Chang, Thomas Gray, Cameron Fraser, James Alexander, Yanni Mavrikis, Adam Drakos, Rhiannon Karey, Mengying Wu, Imogen Kate Roles, Michal Lancemore and Steven Amor.

The CFP designation is the most respected financial planning designation globally, with more than 223,700 CFP professionals worldwide. It is a symbol of excellence for financial planners around the world who are actively committed through higher education and accountability to adhering to world-class professional and ethical standards. The CFP designation offers financial planning professionals a way to differentiate themselves in the profession. 

“The CFP Certification Program is an important part of the FAAA’s efforts to equip planners with the skills needed to provide the best quality financial advice to Australians. We continue to see more members taking part in the course, benefitting the broader financial planning profession in Australia and those seeking advice,” Mr Sharpe said.

The post FAAA announces winner of Gwen Fletcher Memorial Award for semester one 2025 appeared first on AdviserVoice.

Tyndall Investment Management (Tyndall AM), a Nikko AM company, has formalised its team management and strategic functions to provide further depth and breadth to its fixed income capabilities.

The move follows the success of new hire, Mr James Alexander, who was appointed in June 2013 to manage the fixed income team. His appointment has enabled Mr Roger Bridges, to continue to focus his strength and expertise in macro economic and strategic investment research for Tyndall’s Australian Fixed Income funds and insurance asset management solutions.

Mr Alexander will become head of fixed income and Mr Bridges will become head of fixed income strategy.

Managing Director, Mike Davis, says since the appointment of Mr Alexander the roles of the two fixed income team leaders have evolved as expected, and the new titles are a formalisation of the existing team management and strategic functions.

“The investment team has been reporting to James since his appointment when he was given the responsibility for the team, process, products and performance,” Mr Davis says.

“There will be no fundamental change in the Tyndall AM fixed income investment process, philosophy or strategy, and the fixed income team will continue to focus daily on managing downside risk and maintaining low volatility for clients.

“Roger has been with Tyndall for 15 years, and has a wealth of experience in fixed income strategy with a strong focus on insurance investment strategies. He has become increasingly focused on strategic investment at a macro level, and working with our global investment team to bring greater recognition of our broader investment views and capabilities to prospective and current clients.

“This team structure allows Roger to further enhance his macro focus, while the day to day running of the fixed income team and its product diversification strategies will continue under James’ leadership.”

Global CIO, Mr Yu-Ming Wang, said the move is in line with the recent announcement of a management structure that is being introduced globally, that allows local market needs to be met with products based on the highest global standards.

“The formalisation of function titles recognises the success of Mr Alexander’s appointment, and acknowledges Mr Bridges’ expertise and experience in macro assessment, and contribution as part of the Nikko AM’s Global Investment Committee,” Mr Wang says.

Both Mr Alexander and Mr Bridges will report to Mr Wang for investments and Mr Davis for local management issues.

The fixed income team is continually working to improve and refine its investment process and offerings to both the insurance markets as well as local and regional institutional and retail investors, Mr Davis says.

“The Tyndall fixed income team put in a very strong performance in 2013 and these changes will help ensure the strong long term performance record of the team continues. We strongly believe that the focus on fixed income and associated product will grow with both demographic trends and outcomes based investing preferences,” he concludes.

The post Tyndall AM further refines fixed income team structure appeared first on AdviserVoice.

James Alexander

Nikko AM, Tyndall AM’s parent, has made several strategic hires across the group as part of its ongoing Asian growth strategy.

In Singapore, Winson Fong has joined Nikko AM Asia as head of China strategies while Shivaz Rai joins as investment director for Asian fixed income and Tian Sing Wee as risk manager.

This follows James Alexander’s appointment last month in Australia, joining Tyndall AM as deputy head of fixed income.

These additions to the investment team serve to broaden Nikko AM’s investment capabilities and strengthen the group’s key areas of expertise in Asia Pacific equities and fixed income.

Yu-Ming Wang, Nikko AM’s international chief investment officer who joined the firm earlier this year, remains focused on augmenting Nikko AM’s reputation as an award-winning Asian investment powerhouse and has further plans to enhance the coverage and capabilities of the investment team globally.

“Nikko AM has a plan for continued growth across the Asia Pacific region and I am pleased to support that with these strategic new hires to the investment team,” said Yu-Ming Wang.

“These very talented individuals will boost our capabilities in some of the key areas of focus that our clients have demanded from us. As long as volatility in the Asian and global markets remain, we see continued demand for alternative sources of income and low volatility investment products that have a real handle on risk. These appointments will add valuable expertise to our award-winning investment teams.”

Mr Fong, a China markets veteran and previous winner of several Lipper Fund Awards, has been managing equity portfolios for close to 27 years, including regional Asia-Pacific portfolios, Japan equities, and China, Hong Kong and Taiwan equities. He will be responsible for the Greater China equities team, covering onshore A-shares mandates and related product development. He will also work closely with the existing Asia Pacific equities team in Singapore to deliver market insights and generate high conviction investment ideas. Mr Fong joins from Lion Global Investors Limited in Singapore.

Mr Rai, who joins from Alchemy Investment Management in Singapore, has 15 years of investment experience, covering equities, fixed income, currencies and convertibles. He has extensive knowledge of the fixed income markets, including public and private debt instruments, bank loans, forex and swaps. As Investment Director, Mr Rai will be responsible for Asian local currency and rates and Asian credit strategy inputs.

Mr Wee is a risk and performance management specialist, with 13 years of work experience. He joins from the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) where he was responsible for the analysis and attribution of key portfolio risks. In his new role as investment risk manager, Mr Wee will be responsible for assessing the aggregate investment risk profile at Nikko AM Asia as well as evaluating product risk management and market-related risk exposures

Messrs Fong, Rai and Wee will report directly to Eleanor Seet, president of Nikko AM Asia.

As previously announced, Mr James, who joined Tyndall last month in the newly created role of deputy head of fixed income, reports to Tyndall’s head of fixed income Roger Bridges. The new role provides additional resources to the fixed income team, ensuring it remains focussed on its long-standing strategy of managing downside risk and maintain low volatility for its clients.

The post Nikko AM continues its Asian growth strategy, bolsters investment and risk team appeared first on AdviserVoice.

Mr Alexander will report to Roger Bridges, Tyndall’s long-standing head of fixed income.

In the new role, Mr Alexander will assume responsibility for the day-to-day management of the fixed income team and will also oversee Tyndall’s fixed income investment process.

Mr Bridges, in addition to overall responsibility for Tyndall’s fixed income activities, will increase his focus on research and developing strategic direction for the Tyndall fixed income funds.

Mr Bridges said the position was created to provide additional resources in the fixed income team and support team members in their areas of expertise.

“It will also allow me to formulate macroeconomic viewpoints for portfolio positioning and work more closely with asset consultants and institutional clients in developing individual fixed income strategies, building even stronger relationships with them.

“The expanded team fits in with the overall strategy for Tyndall fund managers to work more closely with our parent, Nikko AM, to enable us to take Tyndall investment strategies to Asian markets, bring Nikko AM funds to Australia, and access the group’s total fixed income knowledge,” Mr Bridges said.

Mike Davis, managing director at Tyndall AM, said that one of Tyndall’s key strengths, in both fixed income and equities, is the experience, depth and stability of its teams.

“This appointment is the latest in a process that started two years ago, during which time we have added two credit analysts, an investment specialist, an independent risk manager and an investment writer to the fixed income team.

“James’s appointment allows us to better leverage Roger’s main strength in investment knowledge, freeing Roger to focus specifically on research, thus providing oversight of our strategic direction for all of Tyndall’s Australian Fixed Income funds.

“Although James will help refine and streamline our processes, there will be no fundamental change in the Tyndall AM fixed income investment process, philosophy or strategy.  The Tyndall AM fixed income team will maintain its core focus on managing downside risk and maintaining low volatility for its clients,” Mr Davis said.

Mr Alexander has 22 years’ industry experience.  Previous roles include senior portfolio manager, global fixed income, at Redpoint Investment Management; director, Australian fixed income, and director, passive and enhanced fixed income, at AllianceBernstein Australia; head of fixed income at RMB Asset Management; and analyst at Australian Gilt Securities Limited.  He holds a bachelor of commerce (finance major) from the University of Alberta, Canada.

The post Tyndall appoints new deputy head of fixed income appeared first on AdviserVoice.