Brisbane-based adviser Christopher Smith has been named the Financial Planning Association’s Certified Financial Planner professional of the year.

He is principal of VISIS Private Wealth, a practice he started in 2001 to offer insurance and wealth management advice.

FPA CEO Mark Rantall says Mr Smith has shown a desire to go above and beyond for clients.

“[His] commitment to professional standards, as embodied by the FPA Code of Professional Practice, and the quality of the financial advice he provides to his clients contributed to this award,” he told the FPA’s conference in Brisbane last week.

“When we look for true excellence in financial planning, we look for the ability to provide clear, easily understood advice, regardless of the complexity of an individual client’s circumstances.”

John Molnar, an Ipac adviser from SA, was named associate financial planner of the year.

Mr Rantall says Mr Molnar, 29, upholds the FPA’s high professional and ethical standards.

Mr Molnar has been working in financial services for more than 10 years, and specialises in providing sophisticated financial planning strategies. He has a keen interest in educating clients about their financial affairs.

The newly created university student of the year award went to Natalie Cross, who achieved the highest result in the “financial planning, construction and review” course at Griffith University.

Having recently graduated with a bachelor of commerce (professional) and a double major in financial planning and accounting, Ms Cross now works with an independent financial planning company in Brisbane.

The Gwen Fletcher Memorial Award went to BDO adviser Sunitha Chamala.

The award recognises the best-performing student in the Certified Financial Planner program last semester.

Students were required to develop a comprehensive financial plan based on a real-life scenario, and to complete a three-hour technical exam.

Mr Rantall says Ms Chamala, of Brisbane, “achieved excellent results in all aspects of the assessment”.

The FPA’s Future2 community service award went to Optimum LifeFocus Financial Planning adviser Christopher Moore.

Mr Moore has contributed to the community through work for a number of charities, including Container of Hope, which he founded with his wife five years ago.

The charity sends shipping containers filled with donated and recycled goods to poor and vulnerable communities around the world.