It was with great surprise and delight that Charlene was awarded Volunteer of the Year 2024 by Financial Advice New Zealand, her professional body. Charlene enjoys ‘giving back’ and has been a member of several committees within Financial Advice New Zealand and other organisations all throughout her career.

Charlene believes in championing quality independent advice within the financial planning profession, and providing advocacy where she can.  She feels that she ‘gets back more than she puts in’ and just enjoys working with her colleagues and being the best support she can.

To paraphrase Charlene’s comments after receiving her award:

“To be recognised by my peers within our profession is quite special, and I’m very grateful for their support, especially as it’s the people around me and on those committees that have made my input enjoyable and fun!”

“For me, sharing knowledge and imparting wisdom I’ve picked up during my career hopefully helps in some small way to empower others to join this profession and continue their career path.  There’s always something new to learn so we can be and do better.”

“We get to understand our client’s values and they share so much with us, so being in a position of trust to help make a positive difference in their lives, providing them with peace of mind and security around what’s important to them, is a privilege and an honour.”