Top Advice Earns Place At Nationals

A career in finance is starting to add up for Elliot Watson, who is on the cusp of national recognition of his skills.

The East Maitland man is a national finalist having taken out the 2013 Value of Advice Award for NSW in October and flies to Singapore this week to front the judges again.

“I’ve got a one-in-five chance but it depends on the other candidates and how they have helped people,” he said.

Mr Watson received the award having assisted a Newcastle woman discharged from the NSW Police Force in Sydney with post-traumatic stress syndrome.

If not for Mr Watson she would have been taxed $70,000 on her payout.

Mr Watson will represent Newcastle Financial Planning, where he has worked since 2006.

The judging panel will consider five presentations from the candidates and will select a national winner at the end of the week-long conference in Singapore, which starts Friday.

“It’s a strong indication of the hard work and the quality of the work I do,” Mr Watson said.

“It’s very humbling.”

The winner will be announced at a gala dinner on March 4.

The Value of Advice award is a Charter Financial Planning initiative that draws on a national field of competitors with licensees across Australia.