Chartered Financial Planners of the Year Award (Corporate)

Why should I enter?

Since 2007 over 260 professional financial advisory businesses have been awarded the coveted corporate Chartered Financial Planners status, distinguishing their business and demonstrating professionalism to their clients, associates and the communities in which they operate.

The winner of the Chartered Financial Planners of the Year 2010 Chartered Award will be the advisory organisation which demonstrates the highest commitment to professionalism, through the qualification and development of its people, a highly professional and ethical culture and a strong commitment to customer care. Such an organisation will promote its Chartered status appropriately.

Being the winner of the Chartered Financial Planners of the Year is an enviable achievement and undoubtedly represents the ultimate endorsement of excellence.

Is my organisation eligible to enter?

All Chartered Financial Planning firms are eligible, but entries must be received by the closing date of 28 June 2010.

How will my organisation be judged?

Business excellence is achieved through commitment to wide ranging cultural and procedural practices focused on customers, staff and community, demonstrating the utmost professionalism. By entering for the award for Chartered Financial Planners of the Year on behalf of your organisation you will be committing to a two-stage judging process designed to enable you to demonstrate the professionalism of your business in representing the advisory profession. Businesses will be assessed in four key areas:

1. A commitment to the professional qualification and development of all staff;
2. Culture, ethos and ethics;
3. The promotion of Chartered status to clients, potential clients and the wider public;
4. Financial stability.

Stage 1 – The responsible member within the firm is initially invited to complete an entry form and explain to the judges, in no more than 500 words, why their organisation should be the Chartered Financial Planners of the Year for 2010. All entries must be submitted with:

• A list of board members (executive and non-executive) and relevant qualifications of each Board member.

• The number of authorised advisers/ other customer facing staff / non-customer facing staff as a percentage of total staff in each of the following categories. In addition, entrants will be advised to support their entry with any relevant material salient to the four key areas of assessment.
  
  - Advisory staff who are Chartered Financial Planners
  
  - Holders of the Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning (not Chartered)
  
  - Holders of the Diploma in Financial Planning who have made progress towards the Advanced Diploma
  
  - Holders of the Diploma in Financial Planning who have not made progress towards the Advanced Diploma
  
  - Holders of the Certificate in Financial Planning who have made progress towards the Diploma
  
  - Holders of the Certificate in Financial Planning who have not made progress towards the Diploma. (Progress towards means a pass in one or more units of a qualification.)
  
  - Those who have made progress towards Certificate

   

• A copy of the firm’s professional development plan (T&C plan);
• The firm’s services and costs disclosure document;
• A copy of (a) latest filed accounts and (b) latest management accounts (these will be assessed independently for financial stability).
• Examples of consumer facing literature (in a pack to be forwarded by mail to the PFS or weblinks).

In addition, entrants will be advised to support their entry with any relevant material salient to the four key areas of assessment.

Stage 2 – The responsible person from a shortlist of firms will be invited to a panel interview where judges will question them on a range of subjects to gain a better understanding of their business. (Please note that if the responsible person is unable to attend the entry will be considered void). The panel will be made up of:

• A consumer representative;
• A personal finance journalist;
• A technical specialist;
• A Chartered Financial Planner;
• The PFS President.

 

How do I enter?

Entries for the Chartered Awards are now closed. Thank you for your interest