FPI Awards testament to excellence within the financial planning industry

Wouter Fourie.

Leaders in the financial planning profession were recognised by the Financial Planning Institute of Southern Africa (FPI), last night, at its Gala Dinner Awards Ceremony.

Wouter Fourie, CFP®, won the 2015 FPI Financial Planner of the Year award, sponsored by Personal Finance, which honours the most proficient professional financial planner in the profession. Fourie has over 17 years’ financial planning experience and is the CEO of AscorTM Independent Wealth Managers.

Godfrey Nti, CEO at FPI, said; “The Financial Planner of the Year award acknowledges the outstanding level of professionalism and ethics adhered to by a CFP® professional. It also showcases the highest standard of financial planning advice provided to their clients.

Wouter is a committed member of FPI and serves on several of our committees. He continues to be involved in our financial literacy education programmes which create awareness of the value of professional financial planning. We are proud of Wouter’s role in elevating the financial planning profession and congratulate him on his achievement.”

Bruce Fleming, CFP® and Mark MacSymon, CFP®, were named 2015 FPI Financial Planner of the Year finalists. Fleming has over 20 years’ industry experience, and maintains an impeccable professional record. He is the Executive Head for Private Clients at Consolidated Financial Planning.

MacSymon, who also has extensive industry experience, is committed to expanding his expertise within the financial planning profession. He is the Wealth Manager at Private Client Holdings.

Other awards and winners on the night were:

The FPI Harry Brews’ Award, sponsored by Stanlib, recognises the professional who has made significant life-long contribution to the financial planning profession and FPI. This 2015 award was given to Marius Botha, CFP®, who, with almost 30 years industry experience, exemplifies FPI’s principles of clients first, competence and diligence. Botha is an accomplished trainer; he continues to be involved in supporting the profession in areas of service to society, academia and training.

Acknowledging the outstanding contribution to continually promoting FPI and the CFP® designation in the media, was the 2015 FPI Media Award, sponsored by Old Mutual Investment Group. For the second time, the award was won by Gerald Mwandiambira, CFP® professional and acting CEO of the South African Savings Institute.

This year, FPI introduced an award honouring the CFP® professional who actively communicates the significance of the CFP® designation, and regularly volunteers in FPI’s consumer outreach initiatives. The inaugural FPI It Starts With Me Award, was presented to Kobus Kleyn, CFP®, for his ongoing contribution to promoting the CFP® mark. Kleyn is the Chairperson of FPI’s Risk Competency Committee and Director at Kainos Financial Services.

FPI also recognised the student that achieved the highest rating in the FPI CFP® professional competency exams. Best performer, Eddie Theron, CFP®, won the Top Student in the CFP® Professional Competency Exam Award, sponsored by BrightRock. Theron has international financial planning experience and is the Head of Proposition Management at Old Mutual Wealth.

Nti concluded: “FPI remains committed to improving the standard of financial planning for the benefit of all South Africans. We are proud of the quality of the professionals who entered the competition, making the judging process increasingly challenging. We would like to thank our members for participating and our judges for their time and expertise through the rigorous vetting process.

We would also like to congratulate each finalist for being an inspiration in the industry and continually delivering the best services to their clients.”