Toronto, October 5, 2010 – Financial Planning Standards Council (FPSC) is pleased to announce Mr. Michael E. Lem as the 2010 recipient of the Donald J. Johnston Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Profession of Financial Planning In Canada (DJJ Award). Mr. Lem is the fifth recipient since the award’s inception in 2006.
Michael Lem’s accomplished and impressive career spans more than two decades in the financial services industry. Mr. Lem is well–respected in the financial community, and currently serves as vice president with the Thornhill, Ontario branch of BMO Nesbitt Burns. He has been a champion for providing integral planning to his clients, which ensures that resources are properly allocated to achieve a client’s most meaningful dreams through a unique process of financial self-awareness and maintenance of the financial plan to achieve the client’s long term goals.
“I am very honoured that my contributions to the financial planning profession have been deemed worthy of this award,” said Mr. Lem, when informed of the committee’s decision.
“Michael’s extensive contributions to the profession of financial planning make him a well deserving recipient of the DJJ Award,” says Debbie Ammeter, Chair of the Board of Directors, Financial Planning Standards Council. “He is an advocate and promoter of increasing financial literacy, and his approach to financial planning and commitment to meeting his client’s life goals align with the spirit of this award.”
Mr. Lem will be formally presented with the Award during Financial Planning Week (Oct.4–10), at the FPSC–hosted Celebration of the Profession Gala, held on the evening of October 5 at the historic Carlu in downtown Toronto. Mr. Lem has requested that that $10,000 charitable donation that accompanies the DJJ Award be made out to Li Koon Chun Finance Learning Centre, which develops programming to promote financial literacy across the University of Toronto Mississauga campus and its surrounding area.
In his nomination letter in support of Mr. Lem, Mervin G. Hillier, President and CEO of Certified Management Accountants of Ontario, describes Michael Lem as, “a role model to those seeking a career in the financial services industry. He exemplifies Donald J. Johnston’s spirit, imagination and dedication not only in his words but also in his deeds.”
Mr. Lem served on the FPSC Board of Directors from 1999 to 2003, from 2002 to 2003, he served as Chair. In 2008, he was named as one of the University of Toronto at Mississauga’s (UTM) Top 40 Most Outstanding Alumni, and in 2009 became the inaugural Vice Chair on the Li Koon Chun Finance Learning Centre Business Advisory Board for UTM. Mr. Lem has amassed six different financial designations (CSA, CFP, A.C.C., C. Dir, CMA, FCMA) and earned CFP® certification in 1998.
About the Award
The Donald J. Johnston Award was created in honour of FPSC’s first CEO, Don Johnston, who retired in 2006. Its purpose is to recognize and inspire outstanding contributions that will forward the development of the professional practice of financial planning toward recognition as a bona fide profession that serves the public need for competent and ethical financial planning advice. The charitable contribution associated with the award celebrates the spirit of the community of financial planning professionals who say “helping people” is the most rewarding aspect of their careers.
The selection criteria includes: personal contribution to the advancement of the status of the profession, advancement of professional standards, personal manifestation of the standards, industry visibility and knowledge, and impact of contribution to the profession.
The nominees are reviewed by the DJJ Award Committee, with the seven voting members independent of FPSC. Previous winners of the award are: Donald J. Johnston (2006), Alastair Rickard (2007), Jim Rogers (2008) and Patricia Lovett-Reid (2009).
About Financial Planning Standards Council
Financial Planning Standards Council (FPSC) is a not–for–profit organization dedicated to ensuring the financial planning needs of Canadians are well served. We develop, promote and enforce professional standards in financial planning through CFP® certification, and raise awareness of the importance of financial planning to Canadians. FPSC has received ISO 17024 accreditation from the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) for its role as the certifying body for the CFP® certification program in Canada. FPSC licenses the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® marks in Canada. There are currently more than 17,500 CFP professionals in Canada and more than 126,000 individuals who have earned CFP certification in 23 countries around the world. These individuals are licensed to use the registered marks: CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® and CFP (with flame logo)®. See www.fpsc.ca for more information.
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FPSC
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