MenuThe Financial Planning Association of Australia (FPA) is delighted to announce Ms Raquel Netto AFP® of The Wealth Mentoring Group in Hampton, Victoria, as the Semester 1 2019 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 first semester of the CFP® Certification Program with demonstrable dedication to providing high-quality financial advice.
Ms Netto, who has worked in the financial services industry for over 14 years in an advice and client relationship management capacity, said: “It’s an honour to receive the Gwen Fletcher Memorial Award in recognition of the study and effort I’ve put in to complete the CFP® Certification Program.”
“Earning the CFP® designation is important to me because it demonstrates my commitment to ongoing education, achieving excellence and upholding the highest ethical standards. The CFP® Certification Program is challenging and I am confident the experience has elevated my skills and knowledge as a financial planner and adviser.
“As financial advisers, we are privileged to hold a position of trust and mutual respect with our clients. We can have a meaningful positive impact in our client’s lives by listening to and engaging with them, mentoring them and ultimately, helping them achieve their financial goals.
“It’s a role I’m passionate about and determined to carry out at the highest standard of excellence because that’s what I expect of myself and what my clients and peers expect of me as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional,” said Ms Netto.
Dante De Gori CFP®, CEO of the FPA, congratulated her on achieving the highest mark in the program. “Raquel’s outstanding results reflect a commitment to advancing her career in the financial planning profession and I proudly welcome her into the growing CFP® professional community of 5,694 in Australia, and over 181,000 around the world.”
Currently, 27 per cent of FPA members are female, up from 26 per cent last year, which compares favourably with the industry average of 20 per cent. Ms Netto says she hopes more women will choose financial planning as a career.
“Receiving an award in Gwen Fletcher’s name is particularly special because she was a champion for the role of women in the financial services profession. I am hopeful that my work with my clients and within our profession will honour her memory and may even encourage more women to become financial planners.”
The CFP® designation is the only financial planning designation recognised globally. It is a symbol borne by financial planners actively committed through higher education and accountability to adhering to world-class professional and ethical standards.
Enrolments for Semester 2 of the CFP® Certification Program close on Thursday 4 July. For more information, visit fpa.com.au/cfp
The next Gwen Fletcher Memorial Award winner will be announced in November at the 2019 FPA Professionals Congress in Melbourne, 27-29 November 2019.
In support of the career progression of women in financial planning, the FPA is proud to present the 2019 FPA Women in Wealth networking event series, featuring 2019 World Cup competitors and GIANTS netball teammates, Caitlin Bassett and Jo Harten. Caitlin and Jo will share what they’ve learnt about leadership, teamwork, resilience and more. Find out more about the lunch event in your nearest capital city during July and August 2019:
