Rhiannon Gogh of Bristol-based PlanIt Future Financial Limited has been named by wealth manager St James's Place as its Chartered Planner of the Year 2023.

She was one of five Chartered Financial Planners shortlisted for the award, which recognises professional standards and commitment. 

Ms Gogh's award and other awards were presented at the firm’s seventh annual Chartered symposium.

Edinburgh-based Tweed Wealth Management won SJP Chartered Firm of the Year.  

Ms Gogh started her career in 1999 and established PlanIt Future Financial Limited in 2021 after joining St James’s Place in 2017.

She is a Chartered Financial Adviser, Fellow of the Personal Finance Society and holds the Certificate in Discretionary Fund Management and the Certificate in Long Term Care Insurance.

Ms Gogh said: “Providing clients with high quality advice is hugely important in this industry and I feel honoured to have been recognised for this.

“Financial advice can be transformational for the parents and carers of those with disabilities and I'm speaking from lived experience as I am a carer for my son who lives with autism.

“I am proud to have supported this community for the past seven years and thankful for the colleagues and clients that I have worked with along the way.”

Meanwhile Dr Jeremy Chapman of Cambridge-based Sycamore Alliance Limited was handed the SJP Responsible Business of the Year Award, the first time the award had been presented.

The new award celebrates businesses that aim to have a positive and lasting impact on society. Dr Chapman was praised for pro bono work in the local community, supporting the next generation through his work on the Violent Crime Prevention Board, and the establishment of the non-for-profit ‘Honestley’ in Africa.

In other awards, Megan Gardner of Stockport-based Mercury Financial Management was named SJP Paraplanner of the Year.

Ceri Griffiths of Pontypool-based Willow Brook Lifestyle Financial Planning was announced as Vulnerability Champion of the Year,

Edward Grant, director responsible for professional development at St. James's Place, said: “These awards are a way for us to recognise good practice across our partnership and highlight those that are going above and beyond for our clients.”

To date, 1,155 SJP Planners now hold a Chartered title awarded by one of the professional bodies (including Chartered Financial Planner, Chartered Wealth Manager, Chartered Associate and Chartered Financial Analyst), with 53 of SJP’s firms having Chartered status, and 36% of SJP’s UK businesses having a resident Chartered adviser.