Mr Hodge, from Price Waterhouse Coopers, wins £5,000 after being judged to have given the best answer to three separate case studies.

IFP members won multiple awards at the Money Management awards, held in association with the IFP, and were runners-up in six categories.

Stephen Jones CFP^CM from 75point3 won Cautious Investment Planner of the Year,  Allan Harragan CFP^CM from Grangewood Financial Management won Structured Products Planner of the Year,  Jon Pinfold CFP^CM from Bluefin won Wrap and Platform Planner of the Year and Anthony Roberts CFP^CM from Ellis Bates Group won Protection Planner of the Year.

Francis Klonowski CFP^CM from Klonowski & Co did especially well, winning not only Investment Companies Planner of the Year but also Multi Manager Planner of the Year.

Former IFP president Jane Wheeler CFP^CM from Direction Financial Planning LLP came runner up in the Inheritance Tax Planner of the Year, Wrap and Platform Planner of the Year and Retirement Planner of the Year categories while Keri Carter CFP^CM from Broadway Financial Planning was runner up in the Absolute Return Strategies Planner of the Year and Structured Products Planner of the Year.

The Meteor Emerging Talent Award went to Joanna Hague from The Consultancy Group.

Other awards were Inheritance Tax Planner of the Year to Matthew Rich from Alan Seward Financial Services, Retirement Planner of the Year to Phillip Rose from Independent Financial Advisor Ltd and Absolute Return Strategies Planner of the Year to Jeremy Spencer from Origen.

Nick Cann, IFP chief executive, said: "It was great to see so many IFP members and CFP professionals among the finalists at last night's Financial Planner of the Year awards.  Particular congratulations go to overall winner Matthew, for claiming this prestigious title for the third consecutive year. This has never been achieved before.

"Also special mention goes to winner of the Emerging Talent award, Joanna Hague, the only female winner on the night."

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