IFP member Stephen Jones CFP^CM has won the top accolade at the prestigious Money Management-IFP Financial Planner of the Year Awards.
He was one of 10 IFP members who dominated the awards this held annually and based on a number of challenging client case studies.
Mr Jones, of Chester-based 75point3 Financial Planning, received his trophy as Financial Planner of the Year and a cheque for £5,000 from host TV presenter Angela Rippon OBE at a Gala Dinner last night in the ballroom of the Mandarin Hotel in Knightsbridge, London.
Mr Jones was runner-up in the wrap and platform planner category and won the cautious investment award in 2011 but triumphed this year. He ended the winning run of Matthew Hodge who has won the title each year in the previous four years.
The awards, supported by the IFP, were sponsored by Schroders. There were a number of categories ranging from equity release to investment trusts and automatic enrolment, a new category, to protection. Money Management said this year's awards saw a record number of entrants across the eight categories and the awards were shared widely as no individual was shortlisted for more than one award.
A number of new names made the shortlists, including Michael Filewood and Richard Barker, both from Age Partnership in Leeds, who battled it out for the equity release planner title having entered for the first time this year. Previous winners Francis Klonowski and Alan Lakey, who have clocked up over 30 entries between them since the awards first ran in 1996, were also both recognised, in the tracker and mortgage categories respectively.
{desktop}{/desktop}{mobile}{/mobile}
Jon Cudby, editor of Money Management, said: "The Money Management awards recognise the best in Financial Planning and the first post-RDR awards saw a record number of entries. The increasing professionalism and quality of the advisers mean the association with the IFP is a logical fit. The awards should continue to celebrate the standards that the IFP encourages for many years to come."
Sue Whitbread, communications director of the IFP, said: We're delighted that IFP members again swept the board in what is regarded as one of the most coveted awards in Financial Planning. Stephen Jones fully deserves his win and the other IFP members deserve recognition for the hard work they have put in to win their awards. Well done to all of them.
"We were again pleased to work with Money Management on the awards which have established themselves as having a unique and valuable role in the profession. It was also a great night and Angela Rippon was a fabulous host."