Ms Holt was awarded Paraplanner of the Year by outgoing IFP President Marlene Shalton FIFP CFP^CM and was praised for her analytical skills and support of the Paraplanning profession.
She was speaking at the IFP's 'Fringe' sessions which were short 10-minute informal sessions for delegates. The theme of her talk was that Paraplanners were beneficial as part of a team-based approach to Financial Planning.
She said within the IFP many firms were RDR-ready and actively doing Financial Planning but this was not always the case.
She said: "You get caught up in your own firm and think everyone else is running their practice in this way. There are some firms who haven't even begun to make the changes needed.This gives an opportunity for Paraplanners to make their mark in the financial services industry."

Ms Holt then spoke about what she enjoyed about being a Paraplanner and her roles over her career.
She said: "I'm often asked whether I'm a career Paraplanner or working towards being a Financial Planner. Don't be blinkered, there are other opportunities than just these two options."
She cited financial research firms as an area that would benefit from the skills a Paraplanner can bring. Her personal experience included working as an in-house Paraplanner, an outsourced Paraplanner and currently as a director at Mackenzie Financial Planning.
While she still works as a Paraplanner, her role as director has enabled her to be more client-facing and more creative within the business.
She ended by saying: "Of course, work hard but also think about what you like about Paraplanning and about your profession in the financial services world and most importantly be proactive and take advantage of the opportunities available."
The IFP has been a keen supporter of the Paraplanning profession for many years and has developed a Certificate in Paraplanning and held a Paraplanner Conference for the past two years.