Prest Financial Planning has been shortlisted in the Medium-to-Large Financial Adviser of the Yearcategory of the 2018 MoneyAge Awards. The Stockport-based firm is one of only two North West-headquartered businesses to be shortlisted in this category.

The firm, which was established in 1961 by the father of the current Chief Executive Graham Prest, provides advice on retirement, investment, later life care and general financial planning to individuals and families around Greater Manchester and the North West. It will now go on to compete for the overall title of Financial Adviser of the Year, with the winner to be announced at a ceremony in central London on 18 October.

Family-owned Prest Financial Planning manages assets valued at more than £350 million on behalf of its clients, over £50 million of which was added in 2017 alone. It employs 22 staff at its Hazel Grove headquarters and is currently carrying out a recruitment drive in response to increasing demand for its services.

Graham Prest, Chief Executive of Prest Financial Planning, said, "We have been taking care of clients' financial affairs and guiding them through key life decisions for more than 50 years, during which time we have developed a strong, distinctive ethos that treats all clients, employees and business partners as members of the wider Prest family.

"Despite our long pedigree we are currently experiencing rapid growth, and 2017 was a record year for us in terms of new funds under management. I believe this shows that our message and values still really resonate with people.

"I am delighted that we have been shortlisted for a MoneyAge Award because, while our clients already know what a fantastic job we do for them, it is always great to gain external recognition for what we do and the way we do it, and it shows our fabulous team that their hard work and talent are appreciated by a wider audience. Now we just have to keep our fingers crossed for October!"

The MoneyAge Awards celebrate excellence, professionalism and innovation in the personal finance sector. The scheme is operated by City of London-based Perspective Publishing, publisher ofwww.moneyage.co.uk, which has been running awards schemes linked to its stable of business-to-business publications since the late 1990s.

Entries to the MoneyAge Awards are judged by an independent panel that includes representatives of the Chartered Insurance Institute, the Society of Later Life Advisers, the National Skills Academy for Financial Services, the Association of Mortgage Intermediaries, the Tax Incentivised Savings Association and the Financial Reporting Council.

The winners will be announced at a gala dinner hosted by the celebrated comedian Lucy Porter - a stalwart of the Edinburgh fringe and numerous BBC panel shows - on Thursday 18 October 2018 at the De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms, London.

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Notes to editors

About Prest Financial Planning

Prest Financial Planning is a firm of Chartered Financial Planners. It implements comprehensive financial plans and investment strategies that enable clients and their families to meet their lifetime goals and objectives. It has been based in Hazel Grove, near Stockport in Greater Manchester, for more than half a century and serves a loyal client base of business owners, professionals and retired high net worth individuals based mainly in South Manchester and Cheshire.

The firm has particular expertise in transfers from defined benefit (final salary) pension schemes, with highly qualified specialists who provide independent, authoritative advice on the suitability of exchanging a guaranteed lifetime income for a lump sum that could benefit from the recently introduced "pension freedoms" legislation. In cases where transfers are found to be suitable, Prest implements lifelong investment strategies and provides generational wealth planning advice to ensure transferring remains the appropriate choice.

Another specialist area is socially responsible investment. The firm has a long track record of advising clients on green and ethical options that can generate the investment performance they desire without compromising their socially responsible values.

Prest also provides expert, highly qualified advice on the funding of long-term care.

Prest Financial Planning was established in 1961 by James Prest, the father of its current Chief Executive Graham Prest. After more than five decades Prest retains a strong family ethos that defines all of its relationships with staff, clients and business partners.