David Norton “Building Excellence” Award 2010 Goes Live (Press Release 23-03-10)
Institute of Financial Planning (IFP) is pleased to announce that entries are now being taken for the prestigious Building Excellence Award, which was established in memory of David Norton, one of the founding fathers of the Financial Planning profession in the UK and a former President of IFP.
The competition is open to all Financial Planning firms across the UK, not just to those of IFP members. Firms initially need to complete the online application form on the IFP website by 7 May. Shortlisted candidates will be informed by the end of May if they are to progress to the next round of judging. The prizes are outstanding, with a total value exceeding £15,000 including 10 days professional business mentoring from Brett Davidson at FP Advance, Investor in Customers assessment and client survey as well as significant PR opportunities.
Nick Cann, CEO of IFP is delighted at how this award has established itself as the “one to win” in such a short space of time. He comments “This award provides the true recognition of Financial Planning businesses on the road to business excellence. The winners, and in many cases the entrants, will set the standards that others will aspire to in the future. The additional mentoring and business coaching that the winner will receive from Brett Davidson is particularly valuable and will not just enable the firm to move up to the next level - but also to stay there.”
Capital Asset Management won the award in 2009. Director Alan Smith CFPcm encourages all Financial Planning firms who are serious about developing their practice to enter this award. “I read a lot of forthright views from advisers who seem very confident about their own firm’s position and this is a great opportunity to ‘put your money where your mouth is’! He is particularly enthusiastic about working with Davidson. “Brett has worked with some of the best businesses in the UK and Europe and can help us apply key skill sets and best practice ideas to our own firm. He can also make us accountable to take actions once agreed.”
Barry Horner CFPcm CEO of Paradigm Norton and current IFP President is one of the three judges. He comments: “It is extremely encouraging to see the quality of the entries for this award increasing year on year. I am particularly pleased to see how much time and effort is now being devoted by firms to the award application process itself, which is proving extremely valuable to them. I am sure that David would have been delighted to see the move towards genuine client centric businesses and the way that firms across the UK are embracing the six step Financial Planning process evidenced by the firms applying for this prestigious award.”
FP Advance are well established as leaders in transition planning. CEO Brett Davidson, who is also one of the judges for this award comments “Our consulting work with previous winners Page Russell and Capital Asset Management has been hugely rewarding and is helping them to build even better businesses. At FP Advance we believe the best way to develop our profession is to 'work with the willing', developing the businesses that have shown a genuine desire to be better. All those firms that make the effort to enter the David Norton Award with its rigorous judging process surely fit this criteria."
The 2008 winners Page Russell report significant benefits from winning the award and the resulting mentoring and business support according to Director Tim Page CFPcm. “The immediate impact for us was the recognition it brought to the business, both with clients and within the profession. Now we are now reaping the practical rewards from the outstanding mentoring program: improved client engagement rates, more efficient and better documented Financial Planning processes, and an improved client review process. All this is having a measurable impact on the bottom line of our business”.
Investor in Customers (IIC) are service standards experts who help firms understand how they can build customer service excellence – and recognise those that achieve the required standards. Neil Craig is Managing Director and comments “We feel that the David Norton Award is a natural fit for what we do and we believe we are uniquely placed to help Financial Planning firms aspire to, and reach, best practice standards. We’ve really enjoyed working with the previous winners and are delighted to support it again for the third year”
The closing date for applications is May 7th. The winning firm will be announced at the IFP Annual Conference and Exhibition at Celtic Manor on September 21.
Contacts:
Nick Cann - Chief Executive Officer (Nick@financialplanning.org.uk)
Tel: 01179 452470
Mobile: 07970 784654
Sue Whitbread –Communications Director (sue@financialplanning.org.uk)
Tel. 01179 452470
Mobile. 07854 072 088
NOTES TO EDITORS
Institute of Financial Planning (IFP)
Comprehensive Financial Planning requires more than good financial products or impressive looking reports. It requires the input of a professional who has mastered the principles of the 4 Es – Education, Examination, Experience and Ethics – cornerstones forming the mandatory requirements of the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERCM certification process.
Qualified Financial Planners carry the internationally recognised CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERCM or CFPCM certification mark. These marks are owned outside the U.S. by Financial Planning Standards Board Ltd (FPSB). The IFP is the marks licensing authority for the CFP marks in the United Kingdom, through agreement with FPSB.
The IFP is the UK professional body of those committed to the development of the multi-disciplinary profession of Financial Planning. The Institute was formed in 1986 to:
- promote the profession and practice of Financial Planning
- increase public awareness of the need for Financial Planning
- raise standards in the quality of advice being provided to the consumer
- create a recognised professional qualification for its members
- ensure ethical standards through its Code of Ethics and Practice Standards
- encourage education in the theory and practice of Financial Planning
- share members’ knowledge and skills with other professionals for the benefit of their clients
- establish a Registry of CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER professionals
In the UK, the IFP is the exclusive licensee of the CFP certification mark. It certifies, upholds and monitors the professional standards of Financial Planning practitioners to protect the interests of members of the public, thus ensuring that they receive proper financial advice at all times. The CFP mark represents Financial Planning’s highest professional standard and is the global symbol representing excellence in Financial Planning.
The IFP serves a membership of over 2000 members and 920 CFP professionals through a programme of national events and training courses, and a regional ‘Branch Network’ centred around 20 areas. Membership is drawn from across the financial services community.
