advo’s Head of Private Clients, Sue Smith, has been recognised as a Finalist in the 2019 Women In Financial Advice Awards, which celebrate the achievements of women working within the financial services sector.

The awards celebrate women whose achievements and work specifically within protection and healthcare advice in the UK have helped enhance or raise its profile as a career for women this area of financial advice – whether through education, training, leadership, mentoring or acting as a role model. The winners will be announced on 3rd July 2019 at a Gala event at the Hilton Bankside, London.

Sue has a long career in the Health and Protection Industry setting up her own independent firm in 1994 which became part of advo in 2008. Sue was appointed Head of Private Clients in 2017 and oversees advo’s Oxford office.

Sue’s role is two-fold, to support the corporate team giving advice to company client group leavers, secondly through a portfolio of referring IFAs and insurance generalists expand the advo Private Clients book.

Over Sue’s long career she has been passionate about ensuring clients get the most from their policies are treated fairly. She has helped shape today’s industry through her long relationship with the trade association AMII, where she was not only instrumental in its creation, but served for many years as Vice Chair and Committee member. During her term she worked closely with the FCA’s forerunner, the GISC, and later the FCA helping to shape today’s compliance structure.

Talking about her time starting her business in 1994 she commented “At the time most medical insurance policies were bought direct or through IFAs or generalist-insurance brokers, rarely these specialised. It was a time of few women in positions of authority and often felt like a ‘wild-west’ of non-regulated ‘cowboys’.

“After all these years I still retain my original passion, battling hard to ensure my clients get their due. Over the many years my love of the work I do has not diminished. I love seeing the results and knowing I make a difference in people’s lives.”

You can view the finalists and find out more about the event and awards here.