The managing director of a wealth manager has been chosen to lead a campaign to promote the benefits of seeing a Chartered Financial Planner in his region.

Tony Larkins will continue to spread the word among the general public after being re-elected to work with the Personal Finance Society as a Chartered Champion.

The Beacon Wealth Management MD takes up the position for the Peterborough, Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire area.

His role is aimed at helping to raise awareness of Chartered status with both the public and members. He encourages people to seek advice from a Chartered Financial Planner.

Champions represent the PFS at a variety of events and look to build connections with local firms of other professions. They are also involved in hosting events to which other professionals are encouraged to attend.

Tony, a former accountant also owns a group of solicitors writes for a number of magazines that explains the benefits of the public seeking advice from someone Chartered.

He told Financial Planning Today: “I believe that it doesn’t matter what you do in life, but that you should do it to your best ability. Our profession involves providing advice and recommendations to the general public, and thus that advice should be the best possible.

“Therefore I believe this can only be achieved by studying both the subjects on which you are giving advice, and the areas around those subjects. I have been Chartered for about eight years and my knowledge is greater because of this.

“I have passed many exams from several professional bodies, and believe that whilst all the technical knowledge is not retained the knowledge that something exists on a subject is just as important.

“This is because further research to a solution can then be undertaken, rather than not knowing that something extra should be considered before making a recommendation. ”

He added: “Chartered Financial Planners are typically more technically qualified and usually no more costly than a non Chartered Financial Planner. “

Asked how much more important Chartered status is following the pension reforms and the increasing need for specialised retirement advice, he said: “In my opinion being Chartered does not necessarily make someone better at giving advice on pensions. There are a number of exams available to provide an adviser with the knowledge required without obtaining full Chartered Status, and considerable CPD available from various sources.

“However, I do believe that by being Chartered, the number of exams required and their wide spread of subjects does enable the adviser to give a more knowledgeable holistic approach.”

The Personal Finance Society is divided into 26 regions and each region has at least one Chartered Champion.

The PFS has over 36,000 members and just over 5000 of these are Chartered, with over 8,400 on their journey towards gaining the status.