Angela Downie of Platinum Mortgages NZ has been named Outstanding Adviser of the Year at the 2022 Financial Advice New Zealand annual conference, held at Te Pae Convention Centre, Christchurch.
The award was presented at a black tie gala dinner on Tuesday 6 September following the first day of the Ignite conference, which was attended by more than 300 delegates.
The awards celebrate the success of and recognises the excellence shown by advisers from across the financial advice sector, says Financial Advice NZ CEO Katrina Shanks.
The judges said Downie, who is an adviser and a director of Platinum Mortgages, was chosen from an “…excellent field of entrants for her commitment to exceptionally high standards, her empathetic approach, and her integrity”.
“This adviser leaves no stone unturned in finding a solution for her clients, understanding how important her role is to her clients and passionately pursues suitable solutions that are always fit for purpose,” stated the judges.
Stephen O’Connor, of Mitre Wealth Management, was honoured with the Service to the Profession Award, which recognises an individual who has made an outstanding contribution and has gone above and beyond to champion the profession.
The judges said his contribution to the development of the profession over more than 30 years working in all aspects of financial advice was extraordinary.
He topped his career by being appointed to the profession’s top position – Chairman of the international Financial Planning Standards Board (FPSB), the first New Zealander to have held the position.
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Awards were also made for rising stars in insurance, lending, and financial planning, and outstanding support person.
The Rising Stars awards recognise new and emerging talent in advice among Financial Advice NZ members in their chosen field by demonstrating they provide exceptional client experience, and show commitment to their professional and personal development.
The Rising Star Award – Insurance went to Scott Crocker, of Abacus Group. The judges said his passion for people and protecting property, along with his age, has gained him a reputation for being the generational voice in a well-established firm that he is working in and with.
The Rising Star Award – Lending went to William Tieu, of Simply Finance. The judges said his focus on quality applications that achieve quality results equal making his clients dreams a reality.
The Rising Star award – Financial Planning went to Jessica Jamieson, of Impower.
The judges said she offers a perfect mix of tailored advice to her clients, understanding their unique set of criteria, their specific circumstances, needs and objectives, their values, and priorities – meaning they are looked after in a way that financial wellness is a top priority.
The winner of the Outstanding Support Person Award 2022 was Brian Coker, of Total Wealth.
And Matthew Wenborn won the Tate Scholarship, which is sponsored by Nigel Tate.
Shanks congratulated all the winners, saying it has been a tough period for the advice sector in the wake of Covid-19.
“There has been a lot of pressure on our financial advisers to perform in a difficult environment,” she says.
“However the financial advice sector is resilient, and our awards recognise this.
“The winning advisers have shone through despite the prevailing conditions. It is also not just the winners, but the quality of entrants for the awards that shows how strong the sector is.
“I would personally like to recognise all advisers. The past 24 months have not been easy. The ever-evolving face of legislation and policy changes mean we are all adjusting to new thinking, new ideas, new values and new possibilities, hence the ‘Ignite’ theme for us at conference this year.
“But some things don’t change, and striving to be the best version of yourself means being open to new opportunities, enabling adviser businesses to grow in sustainable ways.
“Our conference and the awards show the financial advice sector is in excellent heart.”