FP Canada has recognized seven professionals for their contributions to the financial planning profession.
The certification body awarded the Donald J. Johnston lifetime achievement award — which honours contributions to FP Canada’s certifications and to the profession — to Debbie Ammeter and Carolyn Fallis.
Ammeter is commissioner with the Manitoba Securities Commission in Winnipeg and has served as chair of FP Canada’s board of directors.
Fallis, a professor of financial planning at George Brown College in Toronto, chairs the Canadian Foundation for Financial Planning. The charity was founded by FP Canada and the Institute of Financial Planning, with RBC Foundation as a founding partner. It provides pro bono advice and financial education to financially vulnerable Canadians.
Julie Seberras, head of wealth planning and practice management with Manulife Wealth in Toronto, received the FP Canada fellow distinction, which honours financial planners for advancing the profession. She currently chairs the FP Canada Standards Council standards panel.
Martin Dupras and David Wild are the inaugural recipients of the FP Canada award of distinction, which recognizes contributions from individuals not certified by FP Canada.
Dupras, owner of ConFor Financiers Inc. in Montreal, is a founding member of the Projection Assumption Guidelines, among other roles.
Wild, formerly associate deputy minister with Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Finance, also served as a public director on FP Canada’s board.
Aravind Sithamparapillai, a financial planner with Ironwood Wealth Management Group Inc. in Hamilton, Ont., and Desmond Nwaerondu, a financial planner with Sun Life Financial in Calgary, are the first recipients of the FP Canada emerging leader award. The honour recognizes planners under age 40 who demonstrate leadership, innovation and volunteerism.
Sithamparapillai was also the top performer on February’s certified financial planner exam.
The award of distinction and the emerging leader award were introduced this year to broaden recognition of individuals in the profession, FP Canada said in a release.
“The criteria for our awards and distinctions are very high,” FP Canada president and CEO Tashia Batstone said in the release. “We’re thrilled that an unprecedented seven individuals, who represent generations of the financial planning profession, have demonstrated such a strong commitment to excellence and dedication to making a difference in the lives of Canadians.”