Judging

The process for judging the 2011 Award will be as follows.

Stage 1

All entrants will complete the technical questions online through a log in provided by Wizard Learning.  The questionnaire is completed live, online and is designed to test the depth of knowledge.

Stage 2

Each entrant should provide a reference or testimonial from an adviser they work with stating why, in the adviser’s opinion, the entrant should be awarded the title Paraplanner of the Year.

This should set out:

  • what qualities and personality sets this individual apart
  • their attitude
  • an example of something they have done above and beyond the normal paraplanning role
  • why the writer feels they deserve the title Paraplanner of the Year.

Stage 3

There will be an assessment of the paraplanner’s own written ability. It will be a chance for you to show you are able to construct a written piece of work within a limited number of words and that you are able to establish and justify with appropriate reasoning your viewpoint (much like a suitability letter).

This should be an essay, in no more than 1,000 words, on either of the following subjects:

  1. Discuss the importance of including a lifetime cashflow forecast as part of the financial planning process.
  2. Explain why the inclusion of an effective paraplanner is vital to a forward thinking financial planning practice.
  3. The recent introduction of a specific paraplanner qualification has further developed the choice of paraplanning as a career in its own right; discuss how you see the role of paraplanning developing further in a post RDR world.

Points will be awarded for each stage and the Paraplanner of the Year will be the individual with the highest score.  A separate award will be made to the individual with the highest technical assessment score in isolation.

There will be three judges;