MenuThe Financial Planning Association of Australia (FPA) has named Brigitta Hembrow-Gersey of Elston Private Wealth as the winner of the Gwen Fletcher Memorial Award for the first semester of 2022.
Named after the late ‘First Lady of Financial Planning’, the award recognises the highest performing student in the CFP Certification Unit (CFP C) for each semester, with demonstrable dedication to providing high-quality financial advice.
Mrs Hembrow-Gersey is an associate adviser with Elston Private Wealth, based in Canberra. She completed a Master’s Degree in Economics at the Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management in Belgium and began studying for the CFP Certification Program when she was working as a financial planner overseas in 2019.
She said the CFP Certification Program was a fantastic opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge of the different areas of financial planning, including topics not necessarily covered on a daily basis such as business structures and estate planning.
“The CFP Certification program offers a diverse range of knowledge that has enabled me to better advise clients and help them achieve their goals.
“For those thinking about studying for the CFP designation, I say go for it. You walk out of it with a great skill set that you can then apply on a daily basis to provide better advice for your clients,” she said.
“With the increased education requirements, I think the CFP Certification program, together with the Master’s in Financial Planning I’m completing through Kaplan Professional, have helped me to achieve more for my clients and aim higher than just the minimum requirements.
“The CFP Certification Program has helped me to stand out and differentiate myself when it comes to being a financial planner in the industry,” Mrs Hembrow-Gersey said.
Research by CoreData for the FPA found 9 in 10 consumers say they trust a CFP professional to deliver reliable and valuable advice when compared to other professionals.
FPA chief executive officer Sarah Abood congratulated Mrs Hembrow-Gersey on her win.
“This is a fantastic achievement by Brigitta. I particularly congratulate her on her ongoing commitment to the highest levels of education in financial planning. Such commitment honours the legacy of Gwen Fletcher who was a pioneer in education for financial planners and who elevated our profession to another level.
“The CFP Certification Program is a key element of the FPA’s work – started by Gwen Fletcher – to advance the financial planning profession and provide members with the skills and confidence to deliver the best quality financial advice to Australian consumers.”
The CFP designation is the only financial planning designation recognised globally, with over 203,000 CFP professionals worldwide – an increase of 5.5% over last year. It is a symbol of excellence for financial planners who are actively committed through higher education and accountability to adhering to world-class professional and ethical standards. The CFP designation offers financial planning professionals a way to differentiate themselves in the profession.
Semester 2 enrolments close on 1 July 2022 – for more information and to apply for the CFP Certification Program, visit fpa.com.au/cfp
