Authorised representative of Shadforth Financial Services, Charles Badenach, has been named the 2011 Money Management Financial Planner of the Year.
The award was presented by Money Management managing editor Mike Taylor yesterday at the Financial Planning Association national conference.
Based in Tasmania, Badenach has spent more than 10 years with Shadforth as a principal and private client adviser.
He started his career in commercial law before deciding to become a financial planner in 2001. Although a legal background helped him provide a more diverse service to clients, it was his willingness to look outside the financial services industry for inspiration, which truly impressed the judges.
"I was impressed by Charles’ openness to learn from other disciplines and apply those skills for the benefit of his clients," last year’s Money Management Financial Planner of the Year Catherine Robson said.
Robson referred to Badenach’s Diploma in Life Coaching, which he said helped him deal with clients during the recent market volatility.
Badenach is also very passionate about improving financial literacy in his community. He has developed a financial literacy program for the Migrant Resource Centre in Tasmania, and authored a self-help financial book which was donated to every school in the state.
Authorised representative of Professional Investment Services, Rob McGregor, scored the runner-up spot, while two-time winner George Flack and Fiducian’s William Johns were also included in the final four.
Four judges had the considerable task of selecting the 23rd Financial Planner of the Year, by evaluating each application in its entirety and awarding points to each candidate in seven separate areas, including education, quality of advice and customer service.
Aside from Taylor, this year’s judging panel comprised of Matrix Planning Solutions managing director Rick Di Cristoforo, former FPA chair Julie Berry, last year’s winner Catherine Robson.
