Entries open for Paraplanner of the Year 2009
Entries officially open today for this year’s Paraplanner of the Year Award.
The theme of this year’s award is, ‘Find out what it’s like to be a celebrity’, enabling paraplanners to step into the spotlight and be publicly recognised for the hard work they do.
Only paraplanners who hold a proper authority and have fully or partially completed formal financial planning qualifications are eligible to enter the awards by going to www.paraplanneraward.com.au.
The Paraplanner of the Year Award was launched by Australian Unity in 2001 to recognise the professionalism of, and outstanding contribution made by, paraplanners to the financial planning industry.
“The Paraplanner of the Year Award supports and acknowledges the contribution that paraplanners make, and draws attention to their talent as they enter the profession,” Australian Unity head of investments David Bryant said.
“Paraplanners are the future of financial planning. Showcasing the quality of the work they do and their professionalism is a way of improving the understanding of the role financial planners play at a time when the practices of some are tainting the perception of the entire profession.”
Paraplanners can enter this year’s competition online by answering 24 technical multiple-choice questions.
The questions will be available at http://www.paraplanneraward.com.au from September 1 to September 30, 2009. Entries close after that date.
Entrants will also be asked to explain how they help to increase their clients’ wellbeing in their role as a paraplanner, by providing a short summary of their experience, qualifications and contribution to the financial planning profession.
Five state winners — representing Victoria/Tasmania, NSW/ACT, WA, Queensland/NT and SA — will be selected and announced in November. From these state winners an overall national winner will be chosen.
Each state winner will receive a trip to this year’s Financial Planning Association (FPA) National Conference in Melbourne, including a complementary registration for the FPA Paraplanning Masterclass held at the conference. The national winner will be announced at this pre-conference workshop on November 18.
The national winner will receive a trip to the US FPA 2010 conference to be held in Denver, Colorado. The prize includes conference registration, return airfares for one person and accommodation for four nights.
The Paraplanner of the Year Award is supported by Australian Unity Investments, Money Management and the FPA.
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