he Financial Planning Institute of Southern Africa (FPi) has announced the finalists for the 2026 Financial Planner of the Year Award. This year’s winner will become the 26th recipient of the prestigious award, which recognises three professionals demonstrating excellence, innovation and leadership in South Africa’s financial planning profession.
The finalists are:
- Russell Ho, CFP®
- Gareth Collier, CFP®
- Brendan Dunn, CFP®
The finalists were selected through a thorough assessment process, looking at the quality of their financial planning, professional conduct, focus on their clients and commitment to the standards of the profession.
Why this matters for the financial services industry
As consumers face growing financial challenges, from rising costs and changing investment needs to planning for retirement, the need for trusted professional financial advice continues to grow.
The 2026 finalists provide an opportunity to explore how leading professionals are responding to these changing needs, the skills required of the modern financial planner and the role of professional financial planning in improving financial outcomes for all South Africans.
“At the heart of financial planning are people who choose to make a difference in the lives of others. Our finalists have demonstrated what it means to lead with professionalism, purpose and a genuine commitment to their clients and the profession. We are proud to celebrate their achievements and the contribution they are making to building a stronger future for financial planning in South Africa,” says Lelané Bezuidenhout, CFP®, CEO of FPi.
Winner to be announced at FPi Professionals Convention
The 2026 Financial Planner of the Year will be announced during the FPi Professionals Convention, taking place on 7–8 October 2026 at the Century City Conference Centre in Cape Town.
The Convention is FPi’s flagship annual gathering of financial planning professionals and brings together practitioners, industry leaders and experts to engage on the issues shaping the future of the profession and the financial services industry.
The Financial Planner of the Year Gala Dinner on 7 October will bring the awards programme to a close, with the winner announced in front of industry peers and stakeholders as we celebrate excellence in financial planning.