Entries have opened for The IFP Paraplanner of the Year Award, with three weeks for hopefuls to put forward their case.
The winner will be announced and presented with their award at the IFP Annual Conference in October. The prizes are worth approximately £3,000 and include a £1,000 cash prize, a place at the IFP Annual Conference, and access to Wizard Learning materials.
The competition is open to anyone practising as a Paraplanner in the UK. Applicants do not need to be IFP members. Paraplanners must complete three steps to enter:
1. Complete an online technical assessment provided by Wizard Learning
2. Write a 1000 word essay on a choice of two topics set by the IFP
3. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interview with the judging panel in September to cover areas including their essay, their approach to CPD, and why they should win.

{desktop}{/desktop}{mobile}{/mobile}


A special technical award will also be made to the Paraplanner who achieves the best result in the technical assessment.
Steve Gazzard, IFP chief executive, said: "This award is running for its 7th year and continues to represent a real challenge, testing Paraplanners' judgement and skill in technical areas as well as in analysis and writing, which are such important skills that Paraplanners must master.
"Whoever wins will certainly have proved that they are one of the leading Paraplanners in the UK today."
Parmenion is the award's lead sponsor and Wizard Learning is providing the technical assessment.
Patrick Ingram, head of corporate relationships at Parmenion said: "Having come from a background running advisory businesses, we appreciate just how vital Paraplanning skills are in a successful Financial Planning practice. A good Paraplanner is worth their weight in gold."
The closing date for entries is 11 July 2014.
Full details of the award, the prizes, the application and judging process can be found on the IFP website.