Amyr Rocha-Lima CFP, a partner at Financial Planners Holland Hahn & Wills, has becone the new chairman of the influential CISI Financial Planning Forum. Financial Planning Today asked him about his plans.

FPT: Many congrats Amyr on the new role, can you tell us about the CISI Financial Planning Forum and how it works. What is its main role?

Amyr Rocha Lima (ARL): The Financial Planning Forum encourages CISI’s Financial Planning members to share their ideas and listen to presentations by other practitioners. The Forum provides an opportunity to meet other professionals and engage in open discussions in a confidential setting, as the Forum is conducted under the Chatham House rule.

FPT: For those who don’t know you, can you tell us a bit more about yourself and your Financial Planning journey?

ARL: I am a partner at Holland Hahn & Wills LLP, a Financial Planning and wealth management firm based in Kingston upon Thames. I’m a lifelong learner with a passion for helping people combine their life goals with their money and my work is focused on helping successful professionals reduce taxes, invest smarter and retire on their terms.

FPT: What are you hoping to achieve as chairman of the forum and what will be your strategy to develop the profession?

ARL: I am honoured to take on the role of chairing the CISI FP Forum Committee and this is an exciting time in the growth of our profession.  I’m looking forward to building on the good work that my predecessors have done, working alongside my fellow committee members to continue championing the Financial Planning movement across the country and helping to encourage the next generation’s enthusiasm for a career in Financial Planning.

FPT: How do you rate the current health of the Financial Planning profession and what do you see as the key challenges at present?

ARL: I think one of the key challenges facing the profession is the lack of awareness from the public about what we do. I believe that if we work together to improve this, we will not only increase the number of people that will seek our services but also we’ll attract more young people to search for careers in our profession.

FPT: The CFP designation remains the smallest of the two main Financial Planner qualifications in the UK. You are both a CFP professional and Chartered Financial Planner - do you think there is room long term for both designations? Will you be pushing for greater collaboration between the professional bodies? 

ARL: As one of the few people in the UK qualified as both as a Certified Financial Planner and a Chartered Financial Planner, I think they are both worthy qualifications that give Financial Planners plenty of tools to become the professionals they strive to be. As a Chartered Financial Planner, I feel that I can demonstrate my technical knowledge to my clients to give them confidence around my recommendations. As a Certified Financial Planner, I feel I can demonstrate my practical ability to apply that technical knowledge to compile a financial plan which will ultimately help them to achieve their goals. Therefore, I for one would love to see more collaboration between the two professional bodies - for the greater benefit of the public and the wider Financial Planning profession.  

FPT: Away from Financial Planning how do you like to relax?

ARL: Outside of the office, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. I’m also a keen traveller, I have a passion for world cinema and I can often be found in one of London’s eclectic array of restaurants.