Chartered Financial Planner of the Year 2026/27
This award recognises individuals who demonstrate professionalism, integrity, and a commitment to continually raising standards across the financial planning profession.
This could include delivering consistently high standards for clients, promoting professional values and trust in the sector, investing in your professional development and supporting others through mentoring or pro bono work.
What we're looking for
Professionalism and integrity – Consistently delivering high‑quality, ethical financial planning that builds client trust.
Consistently high standards for clients – Investing in ongoing professional development with clear evidence of positive client outcomes.
Raising professional standards – Supporting others and promoting professional values through mentoring, pro bono work, or advocacy of Chartered status.
Who Can Apply?
- Practising financial planners who are FCA (or IOM FSA, Jersey Financial Services Commission / Guernsey Financial Services Commission) authorised to provide investment advice
- Qualified Chartered Financial Planners, whose main role is advising clients
- Full members of the Personal Finance Society*
* Members of the Personal Finance Society Board and advisers with ongoing disciplinary actions against them are excluded
Judging
Three stage judging process designed to enable you to demonstrate the wide range of skills necessary to give clients accurate, clear, effective and highly professional financial advice.
Stage one
When assessing the submission the judges will be looking for evidence of the following:
- How you maintain and develop your professional knowledge and skills (quality CPD undertaken and further / specialist study etc)
- How your commitment to high standards benefits client outcomes (survey findings / testimonials etc)
- How your commitment to ethical practice influences your business practices
- How you invest in the future of your profession (pro bono work / professional connections / mentoring next gen etc)
- Examples of how you promote your Chartered status (communication, use of branding etc)
Stage two
Shortlist from Stage one invited to complete hypothetical holistic case study, independently authored and judged by technical specialists, Technical Connection.
Stage three
Representative from each finalist firm invited to panel interview where judges will question them on a range of subjects to gain a better understanding of their business.
The judges reserve the right to make two awards, to a small and a large firm respectively.
