Financial Planning chiefs are searching for the next Chartered Financial Planner of the Year.

Kate Gannon FPFS, Manning & Company, was last year’s winner.

The Personal Finance Society has begun inviting entries from professionals.

It is also looking for a new Chartered Financial Planning Firm of the Year. LIFT Financial Group was last year’s victors in that category.

Ms Gannon said: “It was a thrill and honour to be awarded with the PFS’s flagship award last year, particularly given the calibre of other finalists from across the UK.

“There’s no better feeling than being recognised for years of hard work, professional development and commitment to the personal finance profession, and I’d encourage PFS members operating across a broad range of specialist areas to consider entering one of the prestigious award categories.”

Paraplanner of the Year, won by Warren Bentham FPFS (75point3), in 2016, and Retirement and Later Life Advice Specialist of the Year, last year won by Jonothan McColgan APFS from Combined Financial Strategies, are also up for grabs.

Investment Advice Specialist of the Year, which was won by David Thomson APFS (VWM Wealth), is also open to entry.

Members of the professional body have until 28 July to submit their stage one entries, across six categories representing the broad cross-section of the personal finance sector.

PFS chief executive Keith Richards said: “Our annual personal finance awards grow in size and prestige every year, paying tribute to those who exhibit outstanding skill and service in their respective field.

“In addition, we continue to recognise the contributions of journalists and commentators who champion the interests of consumers through their in-depth reporting and coverage of important personal finance issues.”

Last year the PFS introduced five new media categories to its annual awards programme. The list has been expanded further this year with the inclusion of a National Newspaper Personal Finance Section of the Year category and a National Newspaper Personal Finance Newcomer of the Year award.

Winners of this year’s awards will be announced on 22 November, at a gala dinner to be held at London’s iconic Roundhouse music venue. For a second consecutive year, the Personal Finance Awards will be hosted in association with NS&I.

John Griffith-Jones, chairman of the Financial Conduct Authority and the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR), has confirmed that he will leave both organisations at the end of his five year term of office.

New pension investments (excluding transfers) jumped by over a third (36.8%) during Q1 2017, rising to £6.8bn from £5bn in Q4 2016.

The Financial Conduct Authority has begun criminal proceedings against Fabiana Abdel-Malek, a former compliance officer at UBS AG’s London Branch, and Walid Anis Choucair following a joint investigation with the National Crime Agency.

Edward Loader Chartered FCSI has been appointed President of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment Jersey branch.

More than one in two people have failed to plan adequately for a long-term absence from work due to illness or injury, research from Cirencester Friendly has shown, and the problem has worsened in the last three years.

A leading pension provider believes the delayed Queen’s Speech - due to take place on Wednesday - will mean only limited pension reform as contentious issues are dropped to ensure the Queen’s Speech is passed by the Commons.

A financial think tank believes there is now a prospect of an early Bank of England base rate rise after the Bank’s Monetary Policy committee voted 5-3 today to keep the bank rate unchanged at 0.25 per cent.

Guy Opperman MP has been appointed as the new Parliamentary Under Secretary for Pensions and Financial Inclusion.

Advisers aiming to grow their firms through acquisition of other firms could be losing out on value by failing to take account of basic checks and balances, Roderic Rennison of Rennison Consulting has warned.