The Financial Planner of the Year...

Find out who won the Financial Planner of the Year Awards this year.

Friday, November 9th 2001, 2:40AM

New Zealand Financial Planning co-founder Jordi Garcia was last night crowned Financial Planner of the Year.

The Awards are run by Good Returns and final judging is done by a three member panel which includes Reserve Bank deputy governor Rod Carr, Retirement Commissioner Colin Blair and financial journalist Mary Holm.

The awards are designed to promote financial planning and highlight excellence and professionalism within the industry.

Runner up this year was Fiona Judd of Broadbase Waikato and third place went to Graham Baker of Spicers Portfolio Management in Hamilton.

The judges said the standard of entries was high this year. All three finalists were highly qualified, competent and articulate.

"It was difficult to distinguish between some very capable candidates," they said.

Garcia, CFP, has been in the industry since 1987 has built up a successful business.

He originally started with IPD Securities and in 1992 co-founded New Zealand Financial Planning Group with Greg Moyle.

The judges were impressed with his maturity and his relationship with clients.

Planners who enter the Awards are judged on a number of criteria including;

Their professionalism and competence

Communications skills

Knowledge of current issues

Their input to the profession and the community

Marketing ability and

Career achievements

As part of the process entrants had to provide a plan they had written and shown how it had met the client's goals. Also the client had to provide a testimonial.

Entrants also had to provide an article on why they should win the Award.

The three finalists also had to do a final interview with the judging panel yesterday.

Previous winner Rodger Spiller, was ineligible for the awards this year.

The Awards are sponsored by: Armstrong Jones, AXA New Zealand, Guardian Trust Financial Services and Royal & SunAlliance, Perpetual Investments, Tower Managed Funds and Morningstar.

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