The Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI) has announced the winners of the Financial Planning Gala Awards 2018.
The awards, handed out at the professional body's annual conference last night (1 October), recognise the outstanding achievement of individuals and firms across the UK financial planning profession.
Acumen Financial Planning won the accredited financial planning firm of the year award.
Its director, Keith Mackie, said: "It is testament to the whole team at Acumen Financial Planning to win this award for the second time. We are truly focused on our clients’ needs and we strive to ensure that they receive the best possible financial planning service.
"The award recognises Acumen Financial Planning as being one of the top financial planning firms in the UK and we are honoured to receive it."
Balance Wealth Planning picked up the David Norton building excellence award.
Its managing director, Rebecca Aldridge, told FTAdviser: "I believe we stood out because we are willing to try new approaches. For example, we only work holistically and we only charge fixed fees."
In the individual categories, Graham Wingar from Future Asset Management was named certified financial planner of the year.
He said: “It is hard to say what helped me win the award but I personally always pride myself on honesty, integrity and having at truly client focused approach to all my work.
"I believe that in order to be a good financial planner you have to be able to fully understand each individual clients differences and adapt your approach to ensure you get them engaged in the process of financial planning."
Rebecca Tuck from Magenta Financial Planning was awarded in the category paraplanner of the year.
She said: "I’m fortunate to have an excellent team around me at work and in the wider paraplanner community. The support I have received has really spurred me on and so I am very pleased to have had such recognition."
The Tony Sellon ‘Good Egg’ award went to Diane Weitz from Ashlea Financial Planning.
A company spokeswoman said: "Of course, we at Ashlea Financial Planning have always known our director Diane to be a good egg, but it’s great to have it officially acknowledged by the members of the CISI.
"Not only is she 100 per cent committed to principled financial planning, she is also generous to a fault with her time, energy and expertise where it might positively benefit either the industry or the individuals who engage with it."
Jacqueline Lockie, CISI head of financial planning, said: "We are delighted to congratulate such worthy winners of this year’s financial planning awards. It shows how good and healthy financial planning is in the UK.
"The winners are at various stages of their own personal and business financial planning journeys and it is a privilege to be able to recognise the best.
"We congratulate all the entrants for their hard work and effort that they put in not just for these awards, but on a daily basis to provide great financial planning to their clients."
