A Bromsgrove businessman has achieved the prestigious ‘Chartered Financial Planner’ accreditation, awarded by The Chartered Insurance Institute (CII). It is the industry’s gold standard for individual financial planners.

Simon Baldwin, who has lived in Bromsgrove for nearly twenty years runs his own financial advice business, High House Wealth Management Ltd. The business is an Associate Partner Practice of St James’s Place Wealth Management, a FTSE 100 company.

Simon gained Chartered status on November 9, following two years of professional study which required him to meet rigorous criteria relating to professionalism and capability. He was also the first person in the UK to complete the Inclusive Financial Planning SJ1 assessment. This new CII coursework module was designed and developed by St James’s Place and focuses on consumer vulnerability and corporate responsibility strategies in respect to investment and pension planning and protection.

Simon is now one of only around 5,000 individuals in the UK to have achieved this Chartered status.

Simon said the accreditation was a landmark for him personally: “I have always prided myself on being thoroughly professional in everything I do, and to receive external recognition in this way is very gratifying. As a Chartered Financial Planner, I can signal my commitment to the highest levels of service to my clients.”

Going forward, Simon will have to demonstrate an annual commitment to continued professional development (CPD) to retain his Chartered Financial Planner status.