On Wednesday the 7th of January, I travelled to the glamorous Westminster Plaza hotel in London for the 10th annual New Model Adviser Conference and Awards.
The New Model Adviser community is recognized as the leading light in the Financial Planning profession; promoting qualifications, high service standards, profitability, innovation and reputation. Every year some 6,000 financial firms across the UK are invited to apply for the prestigious title of ‘New Model Adviser of the year’.
This year we made it to the final four firms for the Wales category for the sixth consecutive year. We were up against three firms from the Cardiff/Newport area who boast considerably larger turnovers and staffing levels.
I waited nervously at the gala dinner table as the results were read out:
‘And this years winners – and they have won before – are…….Thomas and Thomas!’
Receiving our award from television presenter Clive Anderson was a real honor and truly recognition for all of our hard work and diligence over the past eight years.
It has been a wonderful experience, first starting and then growing and improving the firm. Today we manage over £30 million of client assets and we are held up as being amongst the very best financial planning firms in the UK. What a journey it has been!
Lisa, Katy and I would like to sincerely thank all of our wonderful clients for your support and encouragement. We would be nothing without our clients and we value each and every one of you.
On a personal note, I would like to humbly dedicate this award to our wonderful locum consultant and friend Mr. Byron Roberts who sadly passed away in August. He was the original inspiration and influence for me as a young financial adviser all those years ago. Byron – we did it!
As always, we are here for our clients if you need anything at all.
Warm regards
Darren
