The Toronto-based Financial Planning Standards Council (FPSC) is currently accepting nominations for its Fellow of FPSC distinction, which recognizes individuals who have made a significant contribution to the financial planning profession.

Nominees must be involved with the FPSC in a voluntary capacity and their activities within the organization must help the FPSC advance its purpose of instilling confidence in financial planning. They must also have a proven record in advancing the professional standards of certified financial planners (CFP) by undertaking activities that will further the public interest in the designation and enhance its reputation.

There are also nomination guidelines for the nominators. For example, there must be two third-party nominators, one of whom must be a CFP professional and only one nominator can be employed at the nominee’s firm.

Full nomination criteria can be found on the FPSC website. Nominations will be accepted until June 30. The chosen recipients will be honoured at the FPSC’s “celebration of the profession” dinner, which will take place on Nov. 22 in Toronto.

The FPSC is also reminding CFP professionals that nominations are accepted at any time of the year for the Donald J. Johnston Lifetime Achievement Award in Financial Planning. This honour recognizes the lifetime contributions of CFPs who work to advance the financial planning profession.

“Given that the criteria for this prestigious lifetime achievement award are extremely high, the Donald J. Johnston Award may not be awarded every year,” states a note on the FPSC’s website, which also indicates that the award was last presented to a recipient in 2011.

The award is named for Don Jonhston, founding president and CEO of the FPSC, who helped create the council in 1995 and led it through its first decade. Johnston died earlier this year.

Further details on this award are also available on the FPSC website.

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