The Financial Planning Association (FPA) has announced this year’s award finalists.

The contenders in each category are:

• Certified financial planner of the year: Paul Benson, Guidance Financial Services; Michael Hayward, Capital Partners Consulting; Robert Zammit, RSM Financial Services Australia
• Financial planner: Felicity Cooper, Cooper Wealth Management; Nicholas Lloyd, ITL Financial Planning; Patricia Soares Garcia, WB Financial
• FPA paraplanner: Adriana Brink, Alman Partners; Laura Buckley, Momentum Planning; Travis Schindler, Hewison Private Wealth
• Future2 community service award: Mary-Louise Gnoato, Commonwealth Financial Planning; Luke McCoy, Elevate Solutions; Reuben Zelwer, Adapt Wealth Management
• FPA professional practice: Capital Partners Private Wealth Advisers (WA); Eureka Whittaker Macnaught (NSW and Queensland); MBA Financial Strategists (SA)
• FPA university student of the year: Azaria Bell; Jonathon Halls; David Steyn.

Association CEO Dante De Gori says the Future2 community service award finalists deserve special mention.

“Future2, the philanthropic arm of the FPA, has awarded $823,000 in grants since 2007. Our members continue to raise funds for grassroots programs that transform the lives of young people who, through no fault of their own, struggle to make a ‘go’ in life.”

Winners will be announced at the FPA Professionals Congress in Hobart on November 23.