Roland Xu

Roland Xu of Shore Financial Planning in Sydney is the winner of the Gwen Fletcher Memorial Award for Semester 2 2025.

Named after the late ‘First Lady of Financial Planning’, the award is presented by the FAAA and 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.

Xu is a financial adviser with Shore Financial and has worked in financial planning for eight years.  He holds a bachelor of applied financial and actuarial studies from Macquarie University.

He says it is incredibly meaningful to be recognised as the Gwen Fletcher Award winner, especially in the context of how much the financial advice profession has changed over the past few years.

“Financial advice in Australia has gone through significant reform and in this changing environment, to be recognised for technical and professional excellence carries real weight.

“It can be easy as advisers to focus on process, compliance and the mechanics of advice, and forget the underlying privilege: that someone has entrusted you with decisions that materially shape their life trajectory. This award felt less like a moment of celebration and more like a reminder of that responsibility.”

The other financial advisers who completed their CFP certification this semester were:

• Andrew Galea
• Brooke Charity
• Damian Scollo
• Elise Marcus
• Harman Dhillon
• Huseyin Djemal
• Jeremy Douglas
• Kym Coleman
• Luis Arguello
• Madeleine Owens
• Mark Grasso
• Mary Ann Almasan
• Mathew White
• Matthew Katunar
• Shannon Victor
• Zaheer Lalani
• Zoe Kennedy
• Daniel Roggero
• Gareth Croy

Xu said that the CFP certification journey reinforces that good advice requires structured thinking, technical depth and strong ethical judgement.

“The CFP program deepens your technical capability and strengthens your judgement and confidence.

“It also connects you with a community of advisers who care about standards and professionalism, and it reinforces that this is a role built on responsibility and trust. It’s an excellent investment into becoming a more thoughtful and capable adviser.”

Anne Palmer, general manager – education at the FAAA, says pursuing the CFP certification can be challenging but it is also a rewarding and powerful way for advisers to show their expertise and dedication.

“CFP certification is the gold standard in financial planning and is a globally recognised designation for those who meet the highest standards of education, experience and ethics.

“On behalf of the FAAA, I congratulate Roland on winning the Gwen Fletcher Award and congratulate our new CFPs, who have shown dedication and professionalism.”

The CFP designation is the most respected financial planning designation globally, with more than 230,648 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.

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The awards acknowledge members who are committed to delivering the highest standards of trusted and professional advice to Australian consumers, as well as those who go above and beyond to support their local community through pro bono and volunteer work. Additionally, the awards highlight the contribution of outstanding university students who represent the future of the financial advice profession.

FAAA general manager membership, Tania Milnes, said the awards are an opportunity to acknowledge the achievements across the wider advice profession and those who give extra effort to assist in their field and local community.

“The FAAA awards continue to recognise and celebrate those within the Australian financial advice profession that showcase the highest standards of professionalism and care.

“Financial advice is important for all Australians in maximising resilience and achieving their financial outcomes, therefore we recognise dedicated advisers who are committed to helping fellow Australians do so,” Ms Milnes said.

The finalists of the FAAA CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Professional of the Year Award are:

• Sarah Leslie CFP®, Story Wealth Management
• Mark O’Flynn CFP®, Oxlade Financial
• Joe Stephan CFP®, Stephan Independent Advisory

The finalists for FAAAAdviser of the Year Awardare:

• Nikki Booth, My Wealth Solutions
• Adam Lai, Green Associates
• Christine Swanson, Prominent Financial Services

The finalists of the FAAA Professional Practice of the Year Award are:

• Boutique Advisers, WA
• Oxlade Financial, QLD
• WARR HUNT, VIC

The finalists for the FAAA Inspire Women – Excellence in Advice Award are:

• Melody Edwards CFP®, Evalesco Financial Services
• Morgan Hayward, Lume Wealth
• Kelly King, Iconic Wealth

The finalists for the FAAA Gen Next Rising Star of the Year Award are:

• Aayush Sharma, Frost Financial Services
• Shannon Victor, Oxlade Financial
• Aden Wilkins CFP®, Capital Partners

The finalists for the FAAA University Student of the Year Award are:

• Leah Dhu, Curtin University
• Katherine Mitterer, University of South Australia
• Callum Wishart, University of Queensland

Ms Milnes thanked the supporters of the awards, noting their commitment to the advancement of excellence in financial advice.

“This important recognition can’t happen without the help of our award sponsors, and we thank them for their ongoing support and commitment to excellence in our profession.”

Kieran Forde, head of adviser channel at Zurich Australia, the sponsors of the FAAA Adviser of the Year Award, said Zurich congratulates the finalists for their achievements and for leading the way in our industry. 

“Each of the three outstanding professionals has set themselves apart through their commitment to excellence, integrity, and the highest standards of advice. Their passion for helping clients achieve financial wellbeing is matched by their positive impact on the wider financial advice community.”

Beau Riley, general manager retail sales and new business at TAL, sponsor of the FAAA Inspire Women – Excellence in Advice Award, said the award recognises the remarkable impact women have across the profession.

“All the finalists have showcased what great advice really looks like – exceptional leadership combined with genuine care for clients and communities.

“Hearing the candidates’ stories has been a privilege, and they’re a powerful reminder of the role advisers play in helping Australians build confident financial futures. Congratulations to all finalists on this well-deserved recognition.”

Andrew Gregory, chief advice officer at UniSuper, sponsor of the FAAA University Student of the Year Award, said the calibre of entrants for this award continues to rise.

“UniSuper is delighted to support the next generation of advice professionals through this award for a second year. The future looks bright when emerging professionals are creating positive impact on the financial planning profession and their communities.”

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