Happy times at Happo-En Gardens with the 2019 RI Advice Group Awards of Excellence

March ended in a big way for NFPG, with a large number of the team heading over to Tokyo, Japan for the 2019 RI Advice Group Awards of Excellence.

Held within the traditional gardens of Happo-En with its Edo-period architecture and centuries-old bonsai trees, the evening offered numerous awards across both practice and individual categories, to celebrate and encourage excellence at every level. A beautifully presented meal was accompanied by a traditional geisha dance and ceremony.

This year’s awards saw the company in the running for the CEO’s Choice Practice of the Year ($1M and over). NFPG’s Kristy Coulin was also nominated for Support Person of the Year, for her contributions to the administrative responsibilities of the NFPG business.

While NFPG missed out on Practice of the Year, the team were thrilled to watch Kristy – a former Client Service and Office Manager – take to the stage to accept the award for Support Person of the Year.

“It’s wonderful to be recognised for the time I spent in those roles,” said Kristy, who is now thriving in a Financial Adviser role. ”The award has given me the sense of achievement that you can succeed at whatever you do and can gain recognition.”

“There’s a part of me that will always see myself as an administration person, but I can’t wait to build upon the client relationships I’ve established in new and exciting ways.”

Empowering women, enabling achievement

For NFPG CEO and Managing Director Daniel Brown, Kristy’s recognition is further evidence of the support shown for women not only within the company, but across the wider group.

“Kristy started out in our administration team, and has applied herself diligently over her time here to become one of our most talented and valued financial planners,” said Daniel.

“Her award is timely and well deserved, and a great example of how we encourage everyone who works with us – clients and staff alike – to follow their passion.”

Kristy sees the achievement as a capstone to her administrative career, and hopes it serves as inspiration to others in such support roles. And although it was her first time in Japan, there was little time for sight-seeing!

“We literally flew over for the conference and flew straight back to work pretty much the next day, so let’s just say it wasn’t a holiday!” she laughs.

“But we’re really glad to have done it. Everyone over there was so friendly and accommodating, and it’s just an amazing place to see at night. It was a really great team-building exercise.’

With Kristy’s win and the company’s recognition at the 2019 Awards, NFPG continues to build its profile and reputation for success, and is now in the Top 10 both for size and business growth within the RI Advice Group – one of Australia’s oldest and most well-regarded financial groups.