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.

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

Now in its third year, ReCALIbrate continues to highlight the women shaping the future of risk advice. Each recipient receives a $2,000 grant to attend the Financial Advice Association Australia (FAAA) Congress in Perth, helping cover the costs that can hold women back from industry events, such as time off work, travel, accommodation or childcare.

The 2025 ReCALIbrate recipients are:

• Zoe Kennedy, Financial Adviser, Whitsunday Wealth
• Natalie Lackner, Life Insurance Specialist, Parachute Cover
• Alyssa Turner, Financial Adviser, My Fortress Townsville
• Clare Telford, Provisional Financial Adviser, Purely Finance
• Kristy Mitchell, Director & Life Insurance Specialist, Stella Advice

CALI CEO Christine Cupitt said this year’s recipients highlight the diversity and leadership women in advice are bringing to their profession.

“Each of these women is a role model in her community and represents the future of the advice profession,” said Ms Cupitt.

“We’ve seen the ripple effect of ReCALIbrate firsthand, from the confidence it builds in women advisers to the way it changes conversations across the industry.

“That’s why we’ve expanded the program to include more mentoring, more visibility and more opportunities to lead.”

Recipients will gain exclusive support, including access to CALI’s women’s mentoring network, media training and visibility tools, industry speaking opportunities, a complimentary ticket to CALI’s Annual Conference, and a meet-and-greet with CALI in Perth.

Reflecting on her selection, regional financial adviser and 2025 ReCALIbrate recipient Zoe Kennedy said:

“The chance to be mentored by industry change-makers and amplify the voice of women in advice is priceless. I am passionate about bringing quality advice to regional Australians, they’re my community.

“My vision is to build an accessible platform where women can find practical resources about life insurance and advice and be empowered to make confident informed decisions that protect them and their families.”

Another 2025 recipient, Natalie Lackner, who recently ventured out into her own life insurance advice business said:

“This grant means being part of an initiative that champions women in advice. It is inspiring, because when women are supported and connected, the entire profession grows stronger.

“For me, clarity and confidence are at the heart of great advice. This experience allows me to share that message, advocate for the vital role life insurance plays in protecting women, families, businesses and communities, and learn from others who share the same passion.”

FAAA CEO Sarah Abood said the program plays a powerful role in keeping the profession inclusive and future focused.

“ReCALIbrate is one of the few programs that addresses the real-world barriers women face when building their advice careers. We’re excited to welcome the 2025 recipients to Perth – their energy, diversity and fresh perspectives on the Congress,” Ms Abood said.

The post From the outback to the ocean: meet the five 2025 ReCALIbrate recipients strengthening the future of risk advice appeared first on AdviserVoice.