A growth in numbers in Scotland has helped the US-based Kinder Institute of Life Planning notch up its 500th Registered Life Planner globally.

Adrian Murphy, CEO of Glasgow-based Financial Planning firm Murphy Wealth, is the latest RLP, joining only three other active Registered Life Planners in Scotland.

RLP status is one of the highest designations awarded by the US-based Kinder Institute founded by life planning guru George Kinder who contributes a regular column to Financial Planning Today.

Life Planning focuses on a more client-centric, holistic aproach to Financial Planning. Just over 500 advisers globally have earned the Registered Life Planner designation so far.  

The status is only awarded to those who complete the entire Kinder Institute course of study, including The Seven Stages of Money Maturity Training, EVOKE Life Planning Training, and the RLP mentorship programme.

Murphy Wealth recently announced expansion plans with the appointment of a chief behavioural officer and a number of other appointments in what it called a ‘human-first’ strategy and a new-client focus on business leaders and entrepreneurs. 

Mr Murphy said: “The Kinder Institute approach is the gold-Standard in Financial Life Planning. It’s completely in line with our values, so I was keen to walk-the-walk and work through the process towards the Registered Life Planner designation. 

“Having gone through all the training, I feel I’m able to make a much deeper connection with my clients and better understand what makes them tick and their relationship with money.”

His aim is for his team at Murphy Wealth to go through the Kinder Institute as a core part of being a Financial Planner with the firm. 

Mr Murphy said: “The role of the Financial Planner is ever evolving. The old transaction product focused model is dying off. We need to be able to better understand the emotional and behavioural relationship our clients have with money, their goals, dreams and aspirations. I see us evolving into financial life guides rather than advisers just offering quick-fix product solutions.”

Mr Kinder said: “Human beings, their values and aspiration, are the true focus of Financial Planning.”