People’s Choice Credit Union’s Mary Hadgis has won a Financial Planning Association award

A UniSA business graduate has been named the country’s top financial planning student.

Mary Hadgis has been named the Financial Planning Association’s university student of the year

A UniSA business graduate has been named the country’s top financial planning student.

Mary Hadgis, who works as a financial planning graduate with People’s Choice Credit Union, picked up the university student of the year award at the Financial Planning Association’s Professionals Congress in Sydney last week.

The award recognises students enrolled in either a bachelor’s or master’s degree, who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to their studies, future development and the financial planning industry.

Ms Hadgis, who completed her Bachelor of Business last month, said the award was made extra special by the fact there were limited opportunities for South Australian financial planning graduates to stay in the state.

“This award is a reminder that I have been incredibly fortunate to be able to stay in my home state and work with an employer who offers the rare opportunity to intern and be mentored here,” she said.

“When I began, People’s Choice was the only Adelaide-based internship that specialised in financial planning and I didn’t want to move interstate.

“It’s now given me the opportunity to be mentored by some of the company’s best performing financial planners so I can develop my skills and credibility in the industry.

“This is the beginning of my journey influencing the industry, at a time when doors are opening for change and there is a growing need for financial planning with younger generations.”

People’s Choice head of financial planning Shaun Bitter said it was the first time a South Australian had picked up the award.

“Financial planning is extremely competitive, so to have someone recognised on a national stage this early in their career is outstanding,” he said.