Joseph Kwok started his two-year stint as president of FPAS at the beginning of last month following his election in April.
The association oversees the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) qualification, which Kwok described as a “stringent and high standard”, but a standard he hopes will improve the competency of financial planners in Singapore, develop their knowledge of financial products, and ensure they are ethical when giving advice.
Empowering financial planners
“My main objective is to promote CFP as the platinum qualification for financial planners,” he said in an interview with International Adviser on Friday. “We want to empower financial planners to help Singaporeans to better prepare financially for their future.”
Kwok has more than 15 years’ experience in the wealth management industry, having worked as executive director at JP Morgan Private Wealth Management, managing director of Platinum Capital Management in Asia, and with Standard Chartered and Standard Life.
He currently works as deputy general manager and head of product strategy at Professional Investment Advisory Services (PIAS).
His full-time role with PIAS, one of the largest IFA firms in Singapore, is closely connected to his voluntary role as president.
“I have got good colleagues and a supportive chief executive who sees my role with FPAS as important for the development of PIAS and for the industry, particularly as our firm strives to take a lead in the financial planning business.”
