These awards are fully supported and endorsed by the Office of the Retirement Commissioner. They also have strong support across the financial services industry.
"Too often financial planners and investment advisers are portrayed as being less than competent and professional," event organiser Philip Macalister says. "This is not the case. There are hundreds of advisers operating in New Zealand who offer professional services and advice and help their clients achieve financial security."
Macalister says he was motivated to promote and highlight the good work of advisers in New Zealand because no one else was doing it.

"New Zealanders need to know how financial planners can help them reach their financial goals." The amount of money invested in managed funds shows that thousands of New Zealanders are prepared to use an adviser and are satisfied with their service. Macalister says the bulk of the $14 billion professional fund managers look after for New Zealanders, finds its way there because of advisers.

Planners who enter the awards will be judged on their skills and professionalism, rather than on the amount of business they write.

Good Returns has, in conjunction with several prominent industry figures, developed a robust judging process which gives the awards integrity and transparency. The key elements in this process are having a panel of highly-respected, objective judges and judging entrants on their skills.

• competency
• professionalism
• communications skills
• knowledge of current issues
• input to the profession
• marketing ability
• career achievements
• extracurricular contributions made to the community

The judging panel currently is made up of:
Reserve Bank deputy governor Rod Carr, Retirement Commissioner Colin Blair and journalist Mary Holm.

Consultation with members of the financial services industry shows that there is strong support for these awards as they promote long-term, disciplined savings and they encourage New Zealanders to use managed funds for their savings.

Recent research shows that advice and investment in managed products is inextricably linked, yet while New Zealanders are aware of the need to save, they are not seeking advice.

Part of the reason for this is the low public profile of financial planning. These awards will help raise the public profile of financial planning and will emphasise excellence and professionalism.

The awards are proudly sponsored by the following organisations:
¨ Armstrong Jones
¨ National Mutual
¨ Royal & SunAlliance
¨ Tower Managed Funds
¨ FAB Software