Financial planning's first lady

Gwen Fletcher AM has been awarded Money Management’s inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award for her steadfast dedication and outstanding stewardship in developing and promoting the profession of financial planning in Australia.

As one of the pioneers of financial planning in this country, Fletcher is widely credited as being one of the principal driving forces 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 Service 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, Fletcher 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 nominating Fletcher for this US award, Professor Tom Potts from Baylor University said she truly deserved this honour in recognition of all that she had done in advancing the financial planning profession.

“Gwen is often referred to as ‘The First Lady of Australian Financial Planning’, but she has had an impact globally as well,” Potts said. “She has been a pioneer and leader in Australian financial planning and she has also been active in promoting international co-operation in the development of the profession. Gwen definitely exhibits the FPA’s core values and she is universally respected and loved.”

Although now retired as a financial planner, Fletcher tries to remain active in the profession by attending industry events and conferences.