VIC/TAS State Winner 
Abraham Mohring
Focus Financial Group, Ringwood East

Abraham has proven that he is dedicated to providing exceptional client experiences and developing long term relationships with each of his practices valued clients at Focus Financial Group.

Abraham seeks to follow the client engagement process from end to end, communicating with clients and other parties along each step of the way.  He also understands the importance of efficient work practices and good compliance and has been able to establish and minister these within his practice.

Abraham is clearly passionate about the fundamental role that he and other paraplanners play within the Financial Services Industry and the impact that they can have upon clients’ wellbeing.

NSW/ACT State Winner 
Manola Calvete
Barnes Dowell James, North Sydney 

Manola has spent the past two years paraplanning with Barnes Dowell James.  She holds a Bachelor of Economics with majors in Economics and Finance from Macquarie University, a Diploma of Financial Planning from Deakin University and is currently completing her Masters of Financial Planning studies at University of Western Sydney.

Manola has been a major contributor to her practice’s success and is enthusiastic about the role she plays in structuring clients’ affairs to best meet their needs and objectives. She also looks to streamline and improve the efficiency of her practices procedures and is currently involved with mentoring the practices new paraplanner.

QLD State Winner 
Benjamin McHugh
McConchie Stedman, Toowoomba 

After working as a Secondary Physical Education teacher, Benjamin turned to the financial services sector after completing a Diploma of Financial Advising. He is currently completing a Bachelor of Commerce and Advanced Diploma of Financial Services.

Benjamin’s interest in the industry has driven him to found and chair an investment club, 'Bluesky Holdings' to educate, inform and invest into the Australian equity market and to be a guest speaker at the University of Southern Queensland’s career days explaining and encouraging potential undergraduates to consider a career in financial planning/paraplanning.

In Benjamin’s current paraplanning role he is responsible for contacting clients and completing research on new products and managed funds. He has also been able to develop new Statement of Advice and Statement of Additional Advice document templates which have cut development time down by up to 45 minutes.

SA/NT State Winner 
Paul Bayly
Select Wealth Solutions, Marleston 

After completing his Diploma of Financial Planning with the Securities Institute of Australia, Paul commenced working in a bank advisory role, but quickly made the change to paraplanning so that he could increase his knowledge in both financial strategies and products. He has not looked back since and has thrived on the challenges presented to him with Select Wealth Solutions. Paul currently develops financial plans for four financial planners and also has direct contact with clients both over the phone and in person. Providing clients with a prompt and efficient service helps give Paul a great sense of achievement in his role.

Paul enjoys being involved in all aspects of the financial planning process and strives to exceed expectations and make processes as simple and painless as possible for both clients and the advisers that he works with.