Public given chance to vote
Industry veterans and academic experts oversee the final round judging for the SCMP/IFPHK Financial Planner Awards 2013, but members of the public are also encouraged to have their say. They can do that by casting a vote in the competition's special section to discover "My Favourite Financial Planner", via an online poll which is open until next Thursday.
Industry veterans and academic experts oversee the final round judging for the SCMP/IFPHK Financial Planner Awards 2013, but members of the public are also encouraged to have their say. They can do that by casting a vote in the competition's special section to discover "My Favourite Financial Planner", via an online poll which is open until next Thursday.
Short videos of the top three contestants in each practitioner category - banking, insurance and independent financial advisory (IFA) - can be viewed on the event website. In these two-minute clips, each individual gives a brief personal introduction and then answers a pre-set question on a relevant topic, highlighting the main considerations and giving a few points of advice.
The questions centre on the benefits of consolidating personal MPF accounts, how to help children develop the right attitude towards money, and educating investors about balancing risks and rewards.
The format looks for clarity, precision, suitability of advice and good presentation skills, which are all key attributes for success in the profession.
"We started this category in 2008 with the aim of getting consumers more involved in the Awards," says Dennis Lau, CEO of the Institute of Financial Planners of Hong Kong (IFPHK). "It is a good way to boost public participation and increase general awareness of the importance of proper financial planning. The response has been very encouraging so far, and every vote counts."
