The award is the highest accolade bestowed on financial planners in South Africa, and it represents the very pinnacle of the profession. The rigorous selection process requires candidates to submit a detailed case study; undergo a laborious (virtual) practice visit; and show off their skills and expertise on topics as varied as legislation, industry trends and technical information in the crucible of a panel interview.
I feel incredibly honored to be awarded the FPI Financial Planner of the year award 2021.
In fairness, receiving this award has a lot to do with my incredible team at Hewett Wealth. We set out to establish a truly independent, professional financial planning and advisory business focused on ensuring exceptional outcomes for clients over the long-term. Within five years, we have established a truly independent advisory business, with a national footprint, without compromising the integrity of the advice process and client experience.
2021 has not been an easy year for anyone in South Africa. But the exceptionally high calibre of the winners at last night’s FPI’s annual awards ceremony was a heart-warming and timely reminder of the astounding talent in the South African financial services industry.
Fifty socially distanced financial luminaries gathered for a dose of glitz and glamour at the FPI’s gala dinner, held at Indaba Hotel, Spa and Conference Centre in Fourways, Johannesburg. Amid much suspense, the FPI’s 2021 award winners were announced.
Although Ryan McCaughey took home the biggest prize, he was by no means the only winner.
The second-ever Professional Practice of the Year Award, which recognises that successful financial planning is always a team effort, was won by Gradidge Mahura Investments, which has been going above and beyond for their clients across the country for many years. We couldn’t imagine a more deserving winner.
The runners up and very close contenders for the Professional Practice of the Year award were Crue Invest and BDO.
The Diversity and Inclusion Award, which heralds an individual’s tireless efforts to foster diversity in the financial planning profession, had a worthy winner, Mulalo Nemataheni, CFP®. Her passion for financial inclusion comes through in everything she does, from her day job at ImPowerX Advisory Services and her endless voluntary contributions to the industry. She is driven by a passion to transform South Africa into a financially literate nation. Being a successful entrepreneur at a relatively early age leaves room for many more achievements. Mulalo’s vision for the future is to help build a country where black tax is an issue of the past and people are empowered to be economically active.
The Harry Brews Award, which honours a remarkable individual for a lifetime of service to both the FPI and the financial planning profession in general, was awarded to Kobus Kleyn CFP®of Kainos Wealth Pty Ltd. Kobus is a pivotal ambassador to the FPI, and has consistently and continually marketed the FPI’ activities throughout his career as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®.
The It Starts with Me Award – which recognises a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® who goes above and beyond to promote the CFP® certification – went to Henri Le Grange of Le Grange and Associates. Henri has demonstrated his commitment to empower all financial professionals from different backgrounds, to build better businesses and achieve better outcomes for their clients.
The Top Candidate Award, which goes to the top-performing candidate in the FPI’s CFP® Professional Competency Examination, was won by Charlene Kinnear, CFP® from Discovery Financial Consultants in Gauteng. We wish her well in the next chapter of her already impressive career.
Lelané Bezuidenhout, the CEO of the FPI, was humbled by the efforts of everyone who entered – even more so considering what’s going on in the world. “I am in complete awe of the years of dedication and hard work it has taken for each winner to get where they are,” she said. “This year’s winners have reminded me that there is no such thing as luck – only hard work, dedication and professionalism.”
