New Personal Finance Society President Sharon Sutton has launched a PFS Financial Planning Practitioner Panel comprising some of the UK’s leading Financial Planners.

Ms Sutton recently chaired the first meeting of the group which will guide the PFS’s Financial Planning strategy. Practical resources being developed by the panel include a good practice guide and specialist CPD events.

The PFS has been working with consultants Steve Gazzard, ex-IFP chief executive, and Carrie Bendall. The professional body says that the panel of experienced Financial Planners will be guiding the PFS as it broadens its CPD programme to incorporate “inspirational Financial Planning good practice.”

Panel members are:

Chair - Sharon Sutton, PFS President, managing director, Thornton Chartered Financial Planners
Vice Chair - Jane Hodges, managing director, Money Honey Financial Planning
Adrian Quick, director, HarperLees
Anthony Villis, managing partner, First Wealth,
Neil Bailey, director, Fortitude Financial Planning
Damien Rylett, managing director, Brunel Capital Partners
Garry Hale, managing director, HK Wealth
Gemma Siddle, director, Eldon Financial Planning
Julie Lord, chief executive, Magenta Financial Planning
Simon Thomas, head of policy, regulatory and compliance, Tenet Group Limited
Adam Carolan, director, Xentum
Brendan O’Ciobhain, managing director, Phoenix Wealth Management

The PFS says it has established the experienced practitioner panel to provide relevant “Financial Planning insight and guidance” to the wider profession as part of a continued focus on consumer outcomes and business sustainability.

Keith Richards, PFS chief executive, said: "The advice landscape continues to evolve with Financial Planning becoming central to the government’s desire for consumers to take more responsibility for their own financial futures.

“Increasing consumer demand for advice and feedback from members reinforces the need for the PFS to play a key role in providing ‘good practice’ guidance on Financial Planning methodologies which is central to our strategic commitment to evolve our purpose and build public trust. The practitioner panel also supports our ‘united profession’ drive to become a more inclusive and professional society."

Steve Gazzard added: "Our panel is made up of some of the leading practitioners who have grown successful Financial Planning businesses. I have no doubt that their stories will inspire many more advisers to adopt some of the tools and techniques that contribute to good Financial Planning practice. Not only will advisers benefit from proposition and process insights, but business owners will get access to those that have often learned the hard way.”

President and panel chair Sharon Sutton said: "We are honoured to have such a distinguished and passionate group of individuals who are willing to share what they have learned for the benefit of the wider profession.”