Randall Stout, a partner in the Perth-based financial planning practice HPH Solutions, has been named the 2014 Certified Financial Planner (CFP) Professional of the Year. The chief executive officer of the FPA, Mark Rantall, said the award recognises “professionals who have demonstrated the highest professional standards embodied by an FPA member”.
“Our award winners are the best of the best,” Rantall said. “Not only have they complied with the FPA code, but when giving advice they have also made a considerable contribution to the profession through community involvement, mentoring and support of their local chapter.”
Rantall said that Stout was chosen as the winner “because his submission showed the exceptional levels of service he provides to his clients”.
“Randall also gives back to the community and plays an active role in promoting the work of financial planners to everyday Australians,” Rantall said.
“He sees it as a privilege to help people make smarter choices. With their finances [locked in], he said he loves making a difference to people’s lives by helping them discover and achieve their goals. “His clients said: ‘I would not hesitate in recommending Randall. He is personable, very easy to deal with, explains things in plain English and is always available when we have any concerns’.”
Stephen Godfrey, a financial planner with Visis Private Wealth, was named the winner of the Associate Financial Planner (AFP) of the Year award today at FPA Congress 2014.
He was chosen for his comprehensive fact find process, commitment to strategic client review and ongoing education, being “well on the way to obtaining his CFP”, Rantall said.
Godfrey is a private client adviser specialising in investment management, self-managed super funds, tax management and investment and wealth entities.
Commenting on the win, Godfrey said: “I’m extremely happy to have won this award – it makes me realise that I am on the right path. With everything going on in the industry at the moment, you wonder if you’re doing your best compared to everyone else – this award reaffirms that I am doing the best by my clients and it’s great to be recognised for that by the industry.”
Referring to a number of comments from both Godfrey and his clients, Rantall said Godfrey was committed to the client relationship, and “ adamant that we always serve the client”. One client described him as “our trusted adviser, highly intelligent and always available, he is patient, honest and open.”
The winner of the 2014 Future2 Community Service Award was Kathy Havers, a director of Catalyst Financial Group in Camberwell, Victoria. Rantall said Havers is “passionate about community service and philanthropy”.
“She is a director of the Kindred Spirits Foundation and is actively involved in the Palngun Wurnangat Association in remote areas of the Northern Territory,” he said.
“She assists in the purchase of processing plant for the native Northern Territory food industry, creating jobs for more than 200 indigenous people – jobs that would not otherwise be available in their community.
“Kathy also conducts talks about finances for Autism Australia, a support group for parents with autistic children, and she provides free one-on-one sessions with families to help them navigate a system… made very difficult and complex for children with this disability.”
The awards were presented at the FPA Professionals Congress 2014 in Adelaide, by FPA chair Neil Kendall.
State Winners
CFP Professional of the Year
QLD: Christopher Smith (VISIS Private Wealth)
NSW: Jim Fenwicke (Lumix Wealth)
ACT: Jeremy Gillman-Wells (Bravien Financial)
WA: Randall Stout (HPH Solutions)
SA: Martin Hunter (Hunter Financial Services)
Vic: Catherine Robson (Affinity Private)
Tas: Nicolas d’Emden (Shadforth Financial Group)
AFP of the Year
WA: Simon Podesta (Infinity Wealth Solutions)
Vic: Simon McGuirk (McPhail HLG Financial Planning)
Tas: Cameron Pereira (Genesys Wealth Advisors)
Future2 Community Service Awards
NSW: William Johns (Health and Finance Integrated)
Vic: Kathy Havers (Catalyst Financial Group)
WA: Joseph Hoe (Wealthwise)
