Kathryn Creasy

The Financial Planning Association of Australia (FPA) has announced the winners of the 2021 FPA Awards.

Now in its ninth year, the FPA Awards recognises exceptional financial planners, paraplanners, university students and FPA Professional Practices from across Australia.

The awards also celebrate the individuals and businesses who go above and beyond to deliver outstanding results for clients and give back to the community.

The winner of the coveted “FPA CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Professional of the Year Award” is Kathryn Creasy CFP® of Capital Partners in West Perth. The award acknowledges Kathryn’s outstanding approach to providing comprehensive financial planning advice to her clients but also her passion for mentoring those within her team and the broader profession.

FPA CEO Dante De Gori CFP® said: “Kathryn exemplifies our FPA membership as a modern professional financial planner. She is a shining example to all those that are considering a career in financial planning and the life-changing difference our work can make with a client.”

The winner of the “FPA Professional Practice of the Year Award” is Sydney-based Apt Wealth (NSW). The judges commented that it’s not easy to establish and be recognised as one of the 2021 AFR BOSS Best Places to Work in financial services.

Winning the “FPA Financial Planner AFP® of the Year Award” for 2021 is Leanne Bielik AFP® of 2020 Wealth PTY LTD (VIC). The judges noted that Leanne has paved the way to help those in need in the community get the help and support only a professional financial planner can provide them throughout the pandemic. Leanne also spends time in online communities supporting single mothers and clients who have had previous poor advice outcomes to get back on track.

The winner of the “FPA Advice Innovation Award” is Daniel Thompson AFP® of FINNACLE (NSW). The award was introduced last year to recognise members who have automated their advice process or used technology in new ways to engage with clients and/or deliver advice. Daniel has taken a blank piece of paper approach and an agile mindset to create a novel subscription based advice service. Through testing and improving constantly, Daniel and his team have created an innovative, affordable and easily accessible advice business for the benefit of his clients.

The “FPA Paraplanner of the Year Award” was given to Andrew Mann CFP® of Tupicoffs (QLD). The judges commented that Andrew is an example of what it is to excel in one’s craft. This award is a celebration of Andrew’s career and excellence in paraplanning, particularly his ability to be engaging, pulling complex threads together in such a way that embraces the client’s capacity to absorb information, and deal with matters that are important to the client.

The winner of the “FPA University Student of the Year Award” is Nicole Gardner of Kaplan Professional (VIC). Nicole has forged successful careers in journalism and in the banking sector. Inspired by the financial hardship that a close relative endured, she was determined to become a financial planner and to work hard to ensure that women and those entering aged care are financially educated and set up for success. She is now achieving a high standard of academic achievement whilst working in the financial planning profession and supporting a family.

The winner of the “FPA Community Service Award” supported by the Future2 Foundation is Peter O’Connell CFP® (VIC). The judging panel said that Peter has been a strong supporter of the Aboriginal Literacy Foundation in the Ballarat and Western Victoria area. For the past 15 years he has provided financial literacy education advice to the Indigenous community. He also supports the Aboriginal Literacy Foundation with their accounting and financial planning requirements.

The FPA gratefully acknowledges the time and expertise provided by the 2021 FPA judging panel:

Certified Financial Planner of the Year
Alison Henderson CFP®
David Sharpe CFP®
Marisa Broome CFP®

Financial Planner AFP of the Year
Michelle Tate-Lovery CFP®
Ben Marshan CFP®
Nat Daley AFP®

FPA Professional Planner of the Year
Diana D’Ambra
Julie Matheson CFP®
Neil Kendall CFP®

FPA Advice Innovation Award
Ben Marshan CFP®
Andy Marshall
Fraser Jack

FPA Paraplanner of the Year Award
William Johns CFP®
Vicky Ampoulos
Mark O’Toole CFP®

FPA University Student of the Year
Anne Palmer FPA
Diana Bugarcic – TAFE NSW
Vicky Ampoulos

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Incoming Chair Marisa Broome’s career in financial services spans over 30 years and she has served as an FPA Board member since 2015. She has been an active member of the FPA since its inception, including involvement in national committees for professional education, annual conferences and the Sydney Chapter. Marisa is in her second term as a director having twice been elected by FPA members to the Board.

Currently, Ms Broome is Chair of the Policy and Regulations Committee and the FASEA Working Group and is a member of the Audit and Risk Management Committee of the FPA Board.

During his eight-year tenure on the Board, outgoing FPA Chair Neil Kendall ticked off two long-term milestones for the profession – the enshrinement of the terms ‘financial planner’ and ‘financial adviser’ in law, and the recognition of financial planners as signatories for Commonwealth statutory declarations, alongside lawyers, medical practitioners and justices of the peace.

Commenting on Ms Broome’s appointment, Mr Kendall said: “I’m delighted to be handing over the reins to Marisa. She will make an outstanding Chair and has the skill and vision to lead the next chapter of the FPA’s professional journey. Her experience running her own financial planning practice in Sydney for the last 21 years equips her well to understand and meet the challenges facing the profession.”

Ms Broome said Mr Kendall has paved the way for her to continue the work required to improve financial planning for consumers.

“Neil’s enormous contribution to the FPA is recognised by the Board and we gratefully acknowledge his hard work. As Neil has consistently said over the past four years, what we do as planners makes a meaningful and positive difference in our clients’ lives, and that is the standard we should always test our advice against,” said Ms Broome.

Under her stewardship, Ms Broome said she is committed to supporting members in creating better financial futures for all Australians.

“We will continue to focus on strong professional standards, professional education, and engagement with consumers around quality advice. At the same time, we’ll be building a story centred on trust and the improved standards of FPA practitioner members.

“I am incredibly proud and honoured to be the incoming Chair, and I am most proud of the effort, commitment and passion so many in the profession demonstrate every day.”

Ms Broome openly acknowledges that while challenges lay ahead for the financial planning profession, there are also great opportunities.

“Undoubtedly, there is a need to rebuild community trust in the financial planning profession, but that’s an opportunity for us to seize and build upon, together with a focused commitment to ongoing education, ethical governance and accountability.”

In other changes to the Board, Director Philip Pledge will be stepping down from his role on 31 December 2018 following his significant contribution to the FPA over the past 10 years. As a retired partner of Ernst & Young, Philip has brought a deep level of experience and insight to the FPA Board and played a pivotal role as Chair of the Audit and Risk Management Committee.

The FPA will be welcoming Paul Ruiz to the FPA Board from 1 January 2019. Currently, a member of the Audit and Risk Committee at NSW Treasury, Paul is highly skilled in risk management, financial reporting and audit practices. He brings to the FPA Board more than 30 years of experience with “Big 4” accounting firm KPMG.

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Neil Kendall

The Financial Planning Association of Australia (FPA) member questionnaire on the recent Financial Adviser Standards and Ethics Authority (FASEA) announcements has galvanised members into action with over 1,700 responses in the first 24 hours.

The FPA had been concerned that the FASEA proposals were over-engineered and would result in less access to advice for consumers and greater cost. Member feedback has strongly confirmed this, with many calling for a realistic approach to recognition of existing financial planning specific study.

Commenting on the concerns, FPA Chair Neil Kendall CFP® said, “the FPA and many others in the financial planning profession have spent 20 years building a culture of learning amongst planners. These announcements by FASEA and a refusal to acknowledge the study done in advanced diplomas and the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER Certification Program (CFP® ) will undermine that learning culture if it is not reviewed.

“Our members are outraged and in disbelief that FASEA can ignore the financial planning specific study done in the CFP® program yet recognise a law degree as a relevant financial planning qualification,” he said.

“A financial planner with a Business Degree, eight subjects in the Advanced Diploma, and five Masters level subjects in the CFP® program is treated as unqualified in the latest FASEA proposal, but an existing planner with a law degree only has to complete a non-technical bridging course to meet the standard. It is clear that the FASEA board have not been getting the right guidance on education standards.”

The FPA welcomes the appointment of Dr Mark Brimble as acting Managing Director of FASEA. “We are optimistic that the appointment of Dr Brimble will provide a better opportunity for the profession to consult with FASEA. We thank Dr Deen Sanders for his contribution in establishing FASEA and wish him well in his new endeavours,” Mr Kendall said.

The FPA continues to stress that the education proposals are part of a FASEA package. The education proposals from FASEA seem to ignore that every single financial adviser in the country needs to pass an exam as well, putting in place a failsafe should anyone slip through the education standards without the appropriate knowledge.

Mr Kendall said, “there is broad acceptance that those without university degrees need to undertake further professional study, but those with degrees and further financial planning specific study are aghast at being told by FASEA they are essentially unqualified.”

The FPA had posed a number of questions to FASEA to help clarify their recent proposals and explain their position in a number of areas. The FPA was still waiting on responses to its questions. In light of the changes announced yesterday, the FPA has urgently arranged to meet with Dr Brimble. The FPA will update its members on the FASEA proposals as part of the FPA National Roadshow commencing next week.

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Neil Kendall

The Financial Adviser Standards and Ethics Authority (FASEA) provided new guidance on its proposed education standard and Code of Ethics for financial planners on Tuesday 20 March. FASEA has now started the consultation period, and the Financial Planning Association of Australia (FPA) yesterday sent its 13,700 members and affiliates an online questionnaire to gather feedback on the potential impact of the proposal.

The FPA is simultaneously reviewing the guidance on FASEA’s new position and the implications for the financial planning profession. Commenting on the new education and professional standards guidance, Neil Kendall CFP® , Chair of the FPA, said, “The FPA strongly supports the raising of minimum education standards and recognises those financial advisers who have voluntarily completed, or are undertaking further education.

“We believe FASEA’s latest proposal does not give sufficient recognition to financial advisers who have completed a degree and undertaken additional studies in financial planning. Failure to recognise study completed by existing financial planners is likely to reduce the availability of financial planners and drive up costs for consumers.

“It is important for everyone to recognise the FASEA education standards are part of a comprehensive package of changes, and these components need to be considered and assessed as a whole.”

In addition to the proposed education standards and Code of Ethics, FASEA will put in place an exam to ensure that regardless of the education pathway, financial advisers will have the required level of knowledge to provide sound advice.

Feedback from FPA members on the draft Code of Ethics will be very important as this is the first FASEA requirement that financial planners will need to meet. Consultation on the Code of Ethics closes on 1 June 2018, and consultation on the proposed education standards closes on 29 June 2018 as previously announced.

“The active participation of our members in the consultation period is important so that they can be heard. We would expect all members have now had the opportunity to review the latest FASEA announcement, and we strongly encourage them to take the time to complete the questionnaire,” said Mr Kendall.

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Mr Rantall, who served as FPA CEO from July 2010 to February 2016, has provided an invaluable advisory role to the FPA as a Board member since then.

Newly appointed Board member Jane Bowd, who is a non-elected, independent director will commence on 1 March 2018. She is currently the Group Company Secretary & Corporate Counsel at Coca-Cola Amatil.

FPA Chair Neil Kendall CFP® said, “On behalf of the FPA Board and all our members, I sincerely thank Mark for his dedication to the financial planning profession and his commitment to the FPA.

“He has been with us on our journey to reach higher education and advice standards, and has tirelessly campaigned to ensure both members and consumers benefit from proposed industry and government reforms.

He has also helped grow both the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® mark and number of CFP® professionals in Australia.

“I am also very pleased to welcome Jane Bowd to the FPA Board. Jane brings deep knowledge and expertise in legal and governance matters from her prior financial services roles, and private practice.”

Ms Bowd holds a Graduate Diploma of Applied Corporate Governance, Master of Laws, Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice, Bachelor of Laws, Bachelor of Arts, and is a graduate of the Royal Military College Duntroon.

The announcement of Ms Bowd’s new position follows the election of Michelle Tate-Lovery CFP® to the FPA Board, and the re-election to the Board of Marisa Broome CFP® and Delma Newton CFP® in late November 2017.

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Mark Rantall (left) and Neil Kendall.

The Financial Planning Association of Australia (FPA) has been recognised for its leadership role in advancing financial planning standards and education, through an award presented by the Financial Planning Standards Board (FPSB) in Japan.

The award marks the FPA’s 25 years of delivering the CFP® Certification Program in Australia.

Mark Rantall, CEO of the FPA, said: “Australia was the first country outside the USA to adopt the gold standard and we are immensely proud of our contribution to our profession.

“The CFP® designation is the only designation for financial planners that is recognised worldwide, requiring financial planners to adhere to world-class professional and ethical standards. There are already around 5,500 CFP® professionals in Australia and demand for the certification is rising.

“Becoming a CFP® professional demonstrates a commitment to professional development and best practice, but it also provides competitive edge. We know that more and more Australians are now looking for a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional”, he added.

Enrolments for the CFP® Certification Program Summer Semester close on Friday 6 November. For more information, visit the FPA website.

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Future2 Wheel Classic set for November 2015.

Future2 has announced that its flagship fundraiser, a city-to-city cycling event, will take a 1,080 km route from Sydney to Brisbane between 10 and 18 November 2015.

The Future2 Wheel Classic will arrive in Brisbane for the opening of the Financial Planning Association (FPA) Professionals Congress, where riders will be welcomed by hundreds of peers gathered for the financial planning profession’s annual signature event.

Expressions of interest have already been made by financial planners from around Australia, keen to test their mettle over nine days and to help Future2 raise funds.

The funds raised will bring new opportunity and hope to socially and financially disadvantaged young Australians through Future2’s Make the Difference! Grants. The grants are awarded to community not-for-profits following applications supported by a local financial planning professional who is a member of the FPA.

FPA Chair, Neil Kendall welcomed the prospect of the cyclists’ arrival in Brisbane. “The Wheel Classic is all about financial planning professionals giving back to the community through their participation in the ride. They are doing something they love while also helping to better the lives of young people who are in need, and at risk. That’s a great result all round.

“It’s fitting that the cyclists should arrive to an enthusiastic and appreciative reception from their peers. Last year, the Wheel Classic ride from Melbourne to Adelaide raised over $141,000 net and we hope we can achieve the same success this year.”

Future2 Chair Steve Helmich congratulated the 2014 Wheel Classic participants for their fundraising and personal achievement. “We look forward to having many of you back for another successful Wheel Classic in 2015 – and to welcoming more financial planners who are inspired to change the lives of young people for the better.”

The Wheel Classic events held since 2009 have raised a total of over $460,000 after expenses. Other routes have included Bourke to Sydney (2010 and 2011), Sydney to Melbourne (2012) and Melbourne to Sydney (2013).

The 2015 Wheel Classic plans to meet with Future2 grant recipients BackTrack Youth Works and Beyond Empathy while in Armidale.

Online registrations to cycle the 2015 Wheel Classic will open in early March.

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