In 2017, just a year after joining Private Client Holdings, I watched my colleague, Mark MacSymon, CFP®, win the FPi Financial Planner of the Year Award™. I remember the excitement and pride we all felt as he accepted the award at the gala dinner. At the time, I knew very little about the competition itself.
What I did see, however, was the journey that followed. How Mark shared his knowledge, contributed to the profession, nurtured his clients’ wealth and continued growing as a financial planner. That evening, I quietly set a goal for myself: one day, I would follow in his footsteps.
Several years later, after welcoming my second child, I decided to turn that aspiration into a plan. I set myself a five-year goal to enter the competition. When I shared this with MacSymon, he offered a piece of advice that proved invaluable. He encouraged me to print out the application and complete it as though I were entering that very year.
It was some of the best advice I have ever received.
Working through the application gave me a clear understanding of the standard required and highlighted areas where I could continue to develop. I would encourage anyone considering entering the competition to do the same, even if they are not yet ready to submit an application. The exercise alone is incredibly valuable. It prepared me for what I can only describe as a rigorous, challenging and rewarding process.
When I decided to enter the award, I certainly did not expect to win on my first attempt, particularly given the calibre of the finalists alongside me. Being named the 2025/26 FPi Financial Planner of the Year™ was both humbling and deeply meaningful.
On the evening of the awards, former winner Rudolph Geldenhuys offered me some wise advice: savour every moment because it passes in a flash. He was right. The evening was a blur of excitement, celebration and gratitude. Yet one memory stands out above the rest. Before taking the trophy to the office, I brought it home so that my children could hold it.
Seeing the pride and excitement on their faces made the achievement even more special. While the award may bear my name, it reflects the support of my family, Private Client Holdings colleagues, mentors and clients who have been part of the journey.
Over the past year, I have had the privilege of sharing ideas through radio interviews, articles, speaking engagements and conversations with both clients and fellow professionals. These experiences reinforced how important it is for financial planners to continue learning from one another.
The year has fortified something I have always believed: good financial planning is not about products, performance charts or trying to predict the future. It is about understanding what matters most to our clients and helping them use their resources to support the life they want to live. Having the opportunity to share this message has been a highlight of my year.
As I prepare to hand the baton to the next FPi Financial Planner of the Year™, I find myself reflecting on a goal that started quietly at the gala dinner in 2017. Achieving that goal has been incredibly rewarding, but it has also reminded me that setting meaningful goals shapes the journey long before they are achieved. Looking back, the greatest value was not only winning the award, but how I have grown in the process. For that, I am truly grateful.
