FPA announces latest winner of Gwen Fletcher Memorial Award


The Financial Planning Association of Australia (FPA) is delighted to announce Erica Cummins of Graham Wealth in Swan Hill, Victoria, as the latest winner of the Gwen Fletcher Memorial Award.

Named after the late ‘First lady of Financial Planning’, the award recognises the highest performing student in the final unit of the CFP® Certification Program and dedication to providing quality financial advice.

Ms Cummins, who has been advising for over five years, said: “It’s wonderful to be recognised for the efforts I’ve put in to study for the CFP® Certification Program. It’s the most dedicated and rounded program on offer and has enabled me to diversify, develop my skills, and apply many of the things I’ve learnt in my client facing role.

“It’s an honour to receive this award as Gwen Fletcher was an inspiration. She did so much towards developing and nurturing the financial planning profession – I hope that I can live up to the example set by this amazing woman.”

Dante De Gori CFP®, CEO of the FPA, congratulated Ms Cummins on her achievement: “Erica’s outstanding results are a testament to her commitment and dedication to advancing her career through gaining the CFP® designation. I look forward to welcoming her into our growing CFP® professional community.”

As a mother of three children, Ms Cummins values a career in financial planning as it offers flexible work hours. “Having the flexibility while I’m raising a family has been incredibly important to me. You have the ability to determine how you want to combine work and structure your life.”

Ms Cummins concluded by saying that she sees a bright future for women in financial planning. “Women are still under represented in the profession, so I think it’s fantastic that more women are studying to achieve the CFP® designation. Hopefully it’s a sign that there are an increasing number of us are stepping up into those leading financial planning advising roles, and bringing to the table a different skill set.”

The CFP® designation is the only financial planning designation that is recognised globally, ensuring financial planners adhere to world class professional and ethical standards.

Enrolments for Semester 2 of the CFP® Certification Program close on Thursday 5 July. For more information, visit www.fpa.com.au/cfp

The next Gwen Fletcher Memorial Award winner will be announced in November at the 2018 FPA Professionals Congress in Sydney.