Entries for the 2013 Financial Planner of the Year competition are officially closed

With the first round of the Financial Planning Institute’s (FPI) competition underway, entrants are now awaiting results from the independent panel of judges on whether they will be progressing to the second round.

During the second round of the competition, the panel will complete a site visit that will involve an assessment of each of the entrants’ business on all aspects of compliance, practice management as well as all client documentation and financial planning processes.

Within each round applicants will be required to demonstrate their talents and abilities to the highest degree in order to qualify to go through to each and every round.

The main winner will be announced in June at the FPI Annual Convention and appointed as the FPI and CFP® professional brand ambassador as well as awarded a R50 000.00 cash prize.

The following (alphabetical by name) entrants' plans have been successfully selected to go through to the first round of the competition:

Arnold Singh is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional with Private Wealth Management, a specialist division of Old Mutual, targeting high income and high net worth clients. He has 12 years’ experience in financial planning, having worked for three and a half years as a sales manager at Metropolitan Odyssey. They assist their clients achieve their financial goals by engaging them in Lifestyle Financial Planning, using the FPI Six-Step Financial Planning Process.

Barry O' Mahony came to South Africa from Ireland in 1993 on an Oxbridge Rugby Tour. He joined Appleton, the asset manager, as a portfolio manager and was later head of client services. After five years he joined Brait Unit Trusts as the marketing director and was then made head of practice development of ipac South Africa. Barry founded Veritas Wealth Management in 2004. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional, holds a Bachelor in Economics, a Diploma in Business Administration, a Diploma in Social Studies (from Oxford) and a Diploma in Financial Planning.

Christo Malan is CEO of Ictus Private Clients and holds an M.Com.in Business Management and a B.Com Honours in Economics. He started his career at the Reserve Bank, worked as project manager at the Development Bank of Southern Africa. Prior to that, Christo was a portfolio manager at Sanlam Investments where he managed various investment portfolios. Christo has more than 35 years’ experience in the financial services industry.

Colin Long is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional with seventeen years’ experience in the financial services industry. He is the Vice Chairperson of the FPI KwaZulu-Natal Region and heads up the investment specialist group. Colin also serves on the FPI’s Investment Industry Sector Group (ISG) committee.

Donovan Adams is a retirement specialist at Chartered Wealth Solutions in Johannesburg. Originally from Port Elizabeth, he holds a B.Com Honours degree (NMMU) and an Advanced Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning Law (UFS). He believes that retirement doesn’t have to be complicated and cuts through the clutter by delivering a comprehensive and easy-to-understand plan.

Elsabé Smith is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®, was awarded the 20 IQA award and Top Investment Advisor at Sanlam for two years in succession. She obtained the prestigious Golden Eagle Award from Sanlam for persistent achievement and exceptional service. She is a winner of the Top 20 Business competition awarded by the Eastern magazine for the best business advertisement (Sanlam).

Kagisho Mahura has worked in financial services since 1996. He has worked as head of marketing at Old Mutual Unit Trusts and Coronation. He has a few accolades behind his name such as winner of NBMBA Case Competition (Atlanta, USA, 2006), MBA student of the year (2006) and finalist in the AMBA Independent International MBA student of the year (London, 2008).

Klaus von Pressentin has been active in the financial services industry for 35 years and has been a financial planner since 2005. He joined Anna Kotzé Consult in 2008, prior to that he was a banker and obtained the Bankers Diploma as well a Fellow of the Institute of Bankers in SA. After obtaining an MBA, he held various financial management positions in small businesses. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional and obtained his Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning in 2011.

Shaun Latter is founder of Quaestor Wealth Management which specialises in retirement planning and investment advice. He holds an Advanced Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning, a Certified Life Coach and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional. Shaun is actively involved in the FPI and served as Vice Chairperson for the Client Engagement Industry Sector Group (ISG).

Theoniel McDonald entered the financial planning industry in 2003. He completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning at the University of the Free State (UFS) in 2007 and graduated with a Master in Business Administration at the UFS in 2010. He is currently the Managing Director of Complete Business Solutions.

*All entrants are CFP professionals.