Honours & Awards
2019
Growth Investor Awards 2019
Financial Adviser of the Year – Runner Up
And, this year the Growth Investor Awards are thrilled to announce Jonothan McColgan, Combined Financial Strategies as our Runner Up in the Financial Adviser of the Year category for a 4th year! McColgan impressed the judges and this is what they had to say about him:
An IFA with a good track record
A very detailed technical case study which highlights his excellent knowledge
Excellent case study in achievements demonstrating incredible knowledge of growth investments
A very competent individual
The Financial Adviser of the Year is the highest accolade honouring an individual who can demonstrate they are best able to advise on tax efficient investments as part of their investment proposition. The judges considered advisers’ application of expertise to add value for their clients, approach to compliance and regulation, risk management and overall promotion of investments.
Nov 2019
2018
Growth Investor Awards 2018
Financial Adviser of the Year – Runner Up
Jonothan McColgan of Combined Financial Strategies has come a close second in the intense race for the prestigious title of the Financial Adviser of the Year category at the annual Growth Investor Awards, organised by Intelligent Partnership. McColgan impressed the judges with his high-profile media presence, his work in developing technical guides and raising the profile of tax efficient investing in the financial advisory profession. The Financial Adviser of the Year is the highest accolade honouring an individual who can demonstrate they are best able to advise on tax efficient investments as part of their investment proposition. The judges considered advisers’ application of expertise to add value for their clients, approach to compliance and regulation, risk management and overall promotion of investments.
Nov 2018
2017
Professional Adviser Awards 2017
Financial Adviser Firm of the Year – South West (Highly Commended)
The Professional Adviser Awards seek to reward excellence within both the financial advice community and among the broader financial services sector. The entry process for the eight regional adviser categories involved completing a short questionnaire as well as a case study, which this year was kindly created by the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI).
Feb 2017
Growth Investor Awards 2017
Financial Adviser of the Year – Runner Up
The award recognised the country’s best individual financial adviser judged on:
- how they educate themselves
- apply expertise to add value for clients, and
- what they do to remain best able to advise on tax-efficient investments as part of their investment proposition.
Nov 2017
Unbiased.co.uk Media Awards 2017
Tax Planning Adviser of the Year
The Unbiased Media Awards 2017 took place in early February at a central London venue, with 150 advisers and journalists in attendance. Every year the Unbiased Media Awards celebrate the work of financial advisers and journalists who promote the value of advice, with entrants coming from over 26,000 independent financial advisers and press partners. Judge’s Comment:
Jonothan showed a deep and wide knowledge of this complex subject matter, and explained it in a straightforward and vivid way. He just did it better overall than the other entrants in this field.
Feb 2017
2016
Growth Investor Awards 2016
Financial Adviser of the Year – Winner
The award recognised the country’s best individual financial adviser judged on:
- how they educate themselves
- apply expertise to add value for clients, and
- what they do to remain best able to advise on tax-efficient investments as part of their investment proposition.
Nov 2016
Personal Finance Society Awards 2016
Retirement & Later Life Specialist of the Year
Excellence is about more than academic achievement and professionalism is about more than knowledge. By entering the award for Retirement and Later Life Advice Specialist you will be committing to a 2 stage judging process designed to enable you to demonstrate the range of knowledge and skills necessary to give clients accurate, clear, effective and highly professional specialist advice in retirement and later life planning.
Nov 2016
unbiased.co.uk Media Awards 2016
Judges Awards for Outstanding Contribution to the Financial Press
Judges comments:
Top quality commentary, extremely knowledgeable, does as good a job providing quotes for the media as he does advising clients and is able to make technical topics accessible to consumers.
Sponsored by Legal & General
Feb 2016
Retirement Planner Forum & Awards 2016
Retirement Planner of the Year
Advisory firms entered a case study outlining how they have worked with clients to reach their retirement planning goals that were assessed by a panel of expert judges including Association of Professional Financial Advisers director general Chris Hannant, Society of Later Life Advisers joint-chairman Tish Hanifan, and Later Life Academy managing partner Stuart Wilson.
Jun 2016
unbiased.co.uk Media Awards 2016
At Retirement Adviser of the Year
Judges Comments:
A good mix of titles and the advice was strong
Described technical topics to consumer audience very well
Good and informative articles – ground breaking on tax relief
Sponsored by Prudential
Feb 2016
unbiased.co.uk Media Awards 2016
Estate Planning Adviser of the Year
Jonothan has won this award two years in a row. Judges’ Comments:
Gave real insight and made it personable.
Sponsored by TIME Investments
Feb 2016
2016 Investment Life & Pensions Moneyfacts Awards
Tax & Estate Planner of the Year (Finalist)
Richard Eagling, Editor of Investment Life & Pensions Moneyfacts, said:
In what had proved to be another challenging year for the financial services industry, it is important to recognise those companies that have consistently stood out by providing the best products and service. The winners at this year’s Investment Life & Pensions Moneyfacts Awards can rightly be proud of their achievements and have set the benchmark for the rest of the industry to follow.
Sep 2016
2015
Unbiased.co.uk Media Awards 2015
Young Financial Adviser of the Year
The unbiased.co.uk Media Awards reward excellence from financial advisers in the media and journalists featured on unbiased.co.uk’s Bluebook, recognizing their valuable contribution to the regional, national and online news on financial topics. Karen Barrett, Chief Executive of unbiased.co.uk, said:
For 11 years now our Media Awards have let us acknowledge and showcase the brilliant work of individual financial advisers as they promote the benefits of professional advice. Although the categories were closely contested, Jonothan has really been an outstanding ambassador building awareness among consumers in the media on tricky financial subjects.
Feb 2015
The Growth Investor Awards 2015
Financial Adviser of the Year Runner-Up
This award recognizes the achievements of individual financial advisers by judging them on how they educate themselves, how they apply expertise to add value for clients, and what they do to remain best able to advise on tax-efficient investments as part of their portfolio. The Judges praised Jonothan for his work to raise his profile and Alternative Investments through the national press and for demonstrating that a client’s portfolio must be reviewed from all perspectives
Oct 2015
Money Management Financial Planner of the Year Awards 2015
Multi-Asset Financial Planner of the Year
Entrants for this award were required to complete an individual case study of approximately 2,500 words on the topic of how best to advise a theoretical client on combining their Multiple Asset into a coherent Financial Plan that could help them achieve all their current and future financial objectives. The Finalists were then invited to interview with a panel of industry experts at the Financial Times building.
Oct 2015
Unbiased.co.uk Media Awards 2015
Estate Planning Adviser of the Year
Judges Comments:
Demonstrated his expertise across the submitted pieces, an original thinker
Feb 2015
Unbiased.co.uk Media Awards 2015
Tax Planning Adviser of the Year
Judges Comments:
Clear, understandable and well-structured comments
Feb 2015
2014
The Financial Times Adviser – Mystery Shopper
Top Financial Adviser in Bath & UK
The aim of the Mystery Shopper Campaign was to find out how good advisers are at handling challenging initial client contacts over the telephone. This particular mystery shopper was looking for advice on financing a complicated house purchase. Combined Financial Strategies Ltd, secured the accolade thanks to a score of 35/35 covering categories such as Guidance Given, Knowledge and Qualifications attained. This score was the first time anyone had achieved 100% since this national Financial Times’ Campaign began 15 years ago.
June 2014
The Financial Times Adviser – Mystery Shopper
Top Financial Adviser in Bath
The aim of the Mystery Shopper Campaign was to find out how good advisers are at handling challenging initial client contacts over the telephone. This particular mystery shopper was looking for complicated advice on inheritance tax planning. Combined Financial Strategies Ltd, which specialises in Retirement and Inheritance Tax Planning, secured the accolade thanks to a score of 34/35 covering categories such as Guidance Given, Knowledge and Qualifications attained. This score was amongst the highest nationally in this Financial Adviser Campaign.
Feb 2014