2008 Widows
Recognising success and achievement in the financial adviser community
The 2008 winners were decided by an independent panel of judges comprising some of the industry's leading figures.
The 2008 Widows awards were presented at the prestigious Scottish Widows Gala Dinner, held at the Guildhall in the City of London. The evening was hosted by Scottish Widows' Olympic Ambassadors, Roger Black MBE and double Paralympic gold medallist Sarah Bailey MBE.
The winners were:
- IFA Newcomer – Becky Taylor of Dunham Financial Services
At the age of 33 Becky has made a tremendous impact in the Financial Planning world. She has invested in her business building an excellent fee based financial planning business which has already been recognised in the New Model Adviser awards. She has already become not only a Certified Financial Planner professional but also a Chartered Financial Planner and most recently become a Fellow of the Institute of Financial Planning and there are only 80 of those in the UK. She has mentored students at Manchester Metropolitan University and also chairs a region of the IFP in the East Midlands.
- Personality of the Year – Billy Burrows of William Burrows Annuities
Selected for his commentary this year on the annuity market, variable annuities and 'the third way'. A very topical subject which Billy has made his own. Billy has been a regular and respected commentator on post retirement products for a while now but due to the increased interest in this market over the past year his reputation has been further enhanced. He is a regular speaker on the conference circuit, a regular contributor to trade and consumer media while also providing advice and insight via his website. This has ensured that he is one of the leading commentators on the UK post retirement market.
- Industry Initiative of the Year – Buckles IFA
For the set up and introduction of a graduate training scheme to recruit new blood into the adviser community. This has led to them having the youngest Certified Planner in the country. Buckles Investment Services Ltd. is a whole of market Independent Financial Adviser and is the largest IFA in Wales and amongst the top 100 in the UK. They offer advice to individual and corporate clients on all aspects of financial planning and has expanded rapidly recently whilst creating its own successful investment range under The Snowdonia Fund brand. In a recent survey, they were ranked 74th (Financial Adviser's UK Top 100 IFA's. October 2007). Buckles have been amongst the top 50 growing businesses in Wales over recent years.
- Lifetime Achievement – Robert Reid of Syndaxi
Robert has been selected for his contribution to the industry not just as an IFA but also for his work at the PFS and the work he has done to improve the adviser industry. Robert is one of the most familiar faces in financial services and is always to be found at the centre of key debates affecting IFAs. He has been in financial services since 1976 and an IFA since 1985. While still keeping up his IFA duties in recent years, he has been head of high profile IFA organisations including chairman of SOFA and currently holds the title of president of the Personal Finance Society.
Robert was presented with his Widows Award at the Financial Planning Association in Boston Massachusetts on Sunday 05 October.
All the winners were presented with an Oscar sized bronze statue of the Scottish Widow.
Andy Briggs, Managing Director of Marketing & Distribution, commented:
“We are delighted to announce this year's winners of The Widows Awards. This is the third year we've run the awards which celebrate success, talent and effort in the IFA community. I would like to congratulate all of our winners and wish them continued success.”
The winners were decided by an independent panel of judges comprising some of the industry’s leading figures:
- Tom Baigrie, Principal & Managing Director, Baigrie Davies
- Katrina Baugh, Editor, IFA Online
- Nick Cann, Chief Executive, IFP
- Matt Ward, Principal Consultant for Pensions & Wealth Management, Defaqto
2007 winners
