Victorians have dominated the Financial Planning Association’s (FPA) Best Practice Awards, winning all the national categories.

Michelle Tate-Lovery was handed the Certified Financial Planner Professional Best Practice Award.

She started her Melbourne practice, Unified Financial Services, in 1994, aiming to deliver holistic, tailored and strategic advice for clients primarily in the allied health professions.

Ms Tate-Lovery has contributed to the FPA’s transition-to-fees taskforce, the certified financial planner curriculum taskforce for ethics, professionalism and compliance and was a judge for the FPA’s Value of Advice awards.

Shane Lenehan from Silvan Ridge Financial Services in Warrnambool took the Associate Financial Planner Best Practice Award, winning praise for his willingness to embrace the FPA’s code of ethics.

The Future2 Community Service Best Practice Award went to Mark O’Leary, of Eluvia in Melbourne. Since last year he has worked with the Cancer Council providing pro-bono advice to cancer sufferers facing serious financial challenges. 

An FPA Distinguished Service Award was given to Hari Maragos, of Victoria Wealth Management, at the awards ceremony in Melbourne on Friday. It recognises his exceptional contribution to FPA chapters, committees and taskforces.