What is CPD? According to the Personal Finance Society: “Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is activity undertaken to ensure members' skills and knowledge are up-to-date.”

When I was growing up, my parents often told me: “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know”.

Although still in the early stages of my career, the people I have worked with, or met in the industry have been central to my development.

On 31 December 2012, the Retail Distribution Review (RDR) was introduced. It made clear how much consumers pay for financial advice, what they pay for, and improved professional standards by introducing a new increased minimum level of qualification for all Financial Planners. The aim was to professionalise the industry and I believe this was a good place to start in improving the reputation of the industry.

Over the last few months I have increasingly been reading articles about efforts to encourage women into a career in Financial Planning. As more women are seeking financial advice, I think it’s important that the demographics of the industry mirror this, writes our guest columnist Financial Planner Chloe Moran who is studying to become a Chartered Financial Planner.