The Personal Finance Society has appointed Sarah Lord FPFS, chief client officer at Succession Wealth, as President for 2020-21.

During her year as President, she plans to focus on the financial adviser development programme.

At Succession Wealth, Ms Lord is responsible for the client and brand strategy and also chairs the NextGen Steering Group.

Prior to joining Succession, she was a partner at professional services firm Mazars. She was also a partner at Killik & Co, heading up the wealth planning operation in the UK and the Middle East.

Ms Lord is a fellow of the PFS as well as holding Chartered Financial Planner and Chartered Wealth Manager status. She is also a Certified Financial Planner.

She was elected to the board of the PFS in 2016.

Ms Lord said: “2020 has been an unprecedented year for society and our profession. Now, more than ever, there is a need for professional financial advice.

“United as a profession, we have a role to play in ensuring that clients have confidence in their financial future.  I am really looking forward to my year as president of The Personal Finance Society; my theme for the year will be to focus on building a strong and sustainable future for our profession.  Aspire, the financial adviser development programme, will be at the heart of my presidential theme.”

Keith Richards, chief executive of the PFS, said: “We are delighted to welcome Sarah as president of the PFS. Sarah’s experience of both our profession and work encouraging the next generation of personal finance professionals will be invaluable in supporting our ongoing commitment to evolve as a modern professional body and equip our members with what they need to best serve clients.

“I would also like to thank past president Adam Owen, a passionate advocate of technology, for his insights, guidance and contribution to the Society over the past year. We will continue to build an inclusive and united profession making greater use of technology in the years to come.”

Her appointment was announced at the PFS’ Annual General Meeting. At the AGM, the PFS also announced that its membership increased to 39,953 (2018: 38,635) individuals at the end of the year and 24,903 (2018: 23,835) Statement of Professional Standing certificates were issued in 2019.