The CISI, the professional body for Certified Financial Planners, has launched an award in memory of the ‘godfather’ of Financial Planning, Paul Etheridge.

Paul Etheridge MBE, founder of the Institute of Financial Planning (IFP), died aged 83 at his home near Cheltenham in January.

He was one of the UK’s longest serving Financial Planners and had been a leading figure in the profession for several decades.

The new award was launched last year and was originally called the Financial Planning Future Leader Award. 

After Mr Etheridge’s death the CISI said it wanted to mark Mr Etheridge’s memory and “recognise his passion for developing talent within the profession" so the award name has now been changed and features Paul’s name. It will be called the Paul Etheridge Financial Planning Future Leader Award.

A spokesperson for the CISI said: "After seeking permission from Paul’s family we were delighted they supported the change of the name of the award.”

The new award will “celebrate exceptional individuals who demonstrate values that underpin the planning profession and hold the qualities to be a leader of tomorrow.”

The link to the award page is here

The award will be annual and will be presented alongside other individual and firm awards at the CISI Financial Planning Conference on 3-4 October.

Ritchie Walton, managing director of Truth (Prestwood) Software, the cashflow modelling firm which Mr Etheridge set up, said: “We are touched and delighted that our founder, Paul Etheridge, the ‘Godfather of Financial Planning’, is to be honoured by the CISI.

“This award is a fitting way to always remember him and his legacy. Paul was a mentor to many in the Financial Planning profession and believed in nurturing others so they could become better, leading to better outcomes for clients – and he did that for over 40 years.  Although he has left a huge hole, looking to the future, we are confident that his influence will continue to have a positive impact.”

Mr Etheridge was the President of the IFP, which launched the Financial Planning profession in the UK, for its first 10 years. The IFP is now part of the CISI.