Making way for a new era

The Financial Planning Institute of Southern Africa (FPI) has been recognising and awarding CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professionals for more than 16 years with the FPI Financial Planner of the Year Award, lauding their ethics and professionalism towards their clients and the industry.

This award is recognised as one of the most prominent public projects undertaken by FPI with the sole purpose of honouring outstanding financial planners from across South Africa. It is considered to be the highest accolade in the profession and the prestige attached to winning means it’s hotly contested.

Wouter Fourie, CFP® professional and CEO of Ascor®; an FPI Approved Professional Practice™; was voted winner for the 2015 term, and is ready to pass on the FPI and CFP® mark brand ambassador role to the next professional as he reaches the end of his FPI Financial Planner of the Year journey.

“Firstly, I would like to congratulate our new winner for having reached this point. More importantly, congratulations on the many years spent working at your craft and changing the lives of your clients. It’s these hard yards that have made you the accomplished financial planner that you are ¬– the one that has been recognised by FPI,” says Fourie.

“My term as the 2015 FPI Financial Planner of the Year has certainly flown past and I have learned a lot from my travels across South Africa and abroad through the engagements with clients, students, as well as the media. I have identified a few challenges along the way, which I feel if acted upon our industry and lives of our clients would be made a lot easier.

• Uncertainty reigns: Today our customers face a heady mix of bad news, bad or misleading financial advice and no end in unscrupulous ‘financial planners’ that have their own interests at heart. As an ambassador for sound financial advice and ethical practices advocated by FPI, it is important that you constantly remind everyone about the importance of finding a suitable accredited professional who carries the CFP® designation.

• The industry is changing: The financial planning industry is changing and you can help drive awareness thereof. We are witnessing a change in the way financial advice will be offered, with a greater emphasis on transparency and honesty. This is driven by our clients and will soon be supported by stricter legislation. Use your title and the platform it offers to educate clients on the difference between product-led financial planning and truly high quality financial planning and advice.

• Lastly, get ready for a very busy year. Financial planning is everyone’s concern and you have an important role to play to make sure people get the advice that they deserve. So before your schedule and inbox starts filling up to overflow, take a second to enjoy the moment and appreciate the recognition as the 2016 FPI Financial Planner of the Year!”

“For the year ahead, I would like to wish you every success in your career as a professional financial planner, as well as the next FPI brand ambassador, and continue to shape the lives of South African’s when it comes to their finances which in turn drives the economy,” concludes Fourie.