Gwen Fletcher AM, the undisputed doyenne of the financial planning profession, passed away quietly last Friday, 28 February. She was 94 (born in June 1919).
As one of the pioneers of financial planning in this country, Fletcher was widely credited as being a driving force behind the formation of the Financial Planning Association (FPA) in 1991-92, through the merger of the International Association for Financial Planning (IAFP) and the Australian Society of Investment and Financial Advisers (ASIFA).
In 1980, Fletcher was granted one of the first Australian licences to practice as a financial planner, which later led her to establish the Investment Training College in 1983.
Since that time she has served as chair and president of the Association of Financial Services Educators, served on the FPA's Financial Education in Schools Project taskforce, lectured at Macquarie University, presented at conferences, authored publications, successfully brokered the deal to bring the CFP designation to Australia, while all the time involved in the education of financial planners and running her own successful planning practice.
For her services to the development of the financial planning industry through the establishment of national organisations and training and education programs, and as a mentor for women in the finance industry, Fletcher was made a Member of the General Division of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2007.
Later that year, she was also honoured with another award for services to the financial planning profession — this time from the United States.
In what is believed to be a first for someone outside the US, Fletcher received the prestigious Heart of Financial Planning Distinguished Service Award from the FPA USA. This award is presented to individuals, financial planning practices, organisations or FPA Chapters in recognition of their extraordinary activities and contributions to the financial planning community and public.
In May 2011, Fletcher was awarded the Money Management inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award for her steadfast dedication and outstanding stewardship in developing and promoting the profession of financial planning in Australia.
Later that year, Fletcher released her biography — Running between the Raindrops.
Gwen Fletcher spent the last few years in a Sydney nursing home. She passed quietly away in her sleep on 28 February. She is survived by two nephews, one niece, two step-sons and one step-daughter.
