The National Financial Planning Awards 2026

Ngoc Day is the chair of the NFPAs’ planning committee and a judge for the Awards. Born in Vietnam and immigrating to British Columbia in 1980, Ngoc is a Registered Portfolio Manager at Macdonald Shymko & Company.

Ngoc holds multiple professional designations, including the CFP^®, CIM^®, R.F.P. In recognition of her deep expertise and commitment to excellence, Ngoc was named First Runner-Up in the 2015 Plan Plus Global Financial Planning Awards.

Mark McGrath is the founder and lead financial planner at Phynance, an advice-only financial planning firm exclusively for Canadian physicians. He has worked for the past decade with Canadian physicians and their families on portfolio management, retirement planning, tax planning, estate planning, and risk management.

A co-host on the Rational Reminder podcast, and co-author of the new book Wealthier: The Investment Field Guide for Canadian Millennials, Mark is a regular contributor to various national publications, including Globe Advisor and MoneySense, as well as a member of FPAC’s Board of Directors, where he serves as Treasurer.

Born and raised in Edmonton, Alta., Brian holds the CFP® designation and operates his own fee-only, comprehensive financial planning and investment management firm, specializing in cross-border planning and tax preparation.

A dual Canadian-U.S. citizen, Brian holds the CFP® designation on both sides of the border, as well as the Trust and Estate Practitioner designation, the Canadian Investment Management designation, the and the R.F.P. designation.

He is also the author of two books, and a frequently cited expert media source on Canada-US financial planning matters, with a passion for public speaking and pro bono work.

Teresa Black-Hughes CFP^®, R.F.P., CLU, CIM^®, CEA, FCSI, is a recipient of the FP Canada™ Fellow distinction, and has been quoted in various publications including Readers Digest, Canadian Living, Vancouver Sun, and the Globe and Mail. In 2014, she was also recognized in the Investment Journal as one of Canada’s most influential women in the Life Insurance industry.

Teresa has served locally and nationally on boards that have been part of shaping the history of the financial planning profession. When Teresa is not working, you will find her volunteering at church and in her community.

Andrea Thompson, CFP, CRPC (US), CCS, is the founder of Modern Cents, an advice-only financial planning firm dedicated to making personal finance simple, accessible, and empowering for Canadians.

With more than two decades of experience on Bay Street and a renewed perspective gained after becoming a parent to twins in 2018, Andrea focuses on helping people build confidence and clarity with their finances through meaningful, relationship-driven guidance.

Andrea serves on the board of the Financial Planning Association of Canada (FPAC), leads its Communications Committee, and volunteers with FP Canada supporting future CFP and QAFP professionals.

Jason has been training financial planners since 2009. In that time, he has helped thousands of planners complete coursework and prepare for exams leading to financial planning certification.

Jason is an active volunteer with FPAC, serving on 3 committees. He is also active in the Financial Therapy Association and Canadian Group Insurance Brokers. Prior to working in this business, Jason spent 14 years in the Canadian Armed Forces Reserve, where he completed four overseas deployments to Bosnia and Haiti.

Jason Pereira, MBA, CFA^®, CFP^® (Can & U.S.), RFP, TEP, FP Canada^® Fellow, is a well-known and accomplished financial planner and industry advocate. He is a director of the Institute of Advanced Financial Planners and the Individual Finance and Insurance Decision Centre and was the founding President of the Financial Planning Association of Canada.

In addition, he has held various volunteer positions with IIROC, FP Canada, The FPSB, CIRO and the CFA Institute, and has worked as an Instructor at the Schulich School of Business. An expert and advocate frequently cited by the media, Jason has recorded over 450 podcasts on financial planning and fintech, written several regulatory commentaries, published dozens of articles, and an advisory board member of the Globe & Mail’s Globe Advisor.

Lenore Davis is a seasoned financial planner and partner at a fee-only firm in Victoria, B.C. With her Registered Financial Planner (R.F.P^®) designation and leadership roles — including past Chair of the Institute of Advanced Financial Planners — she champions professional excellence and higher standards within the industry.

Lenore also contributes to the broader community of practitioners, advocating for investor protection and effective credentialing via associations and public commentary. Outside of work she continues to explore ways to balance the technical and human sides of advice, so that clients can build meaningful financial lives rather than simply accumulating assets.

Zak Smith is a consultant and industry advocate dedicated to elevating the quality and impact of financial advice. After years spent helping advisory teams refine their planning processes and deliver award-winning client experiences, Zak now partners with firms, associations, and professional bodies to simplify complexity, strengthen education, and advance the profession.

A past winner of the Plan Plus Global Financial Planning Awards, Zak champions a holistic approach that connects financial planning with wellness, coaching, and life preparation.

Cynthia is a founding Principal of Stewart & Kett Financial Advisors Inc. (1996) in Toronto. She is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and holds the CFP^® designation, as well as those of Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP), and Master Financial Advisor–Philanthropy (MFA-PTM).

Cynthia has practiced advice-only financial planning, investment consulting, and tax for over 35 years. Her love of a diverse client and community base sees her regularly advising entrepreneurs, professionals, executives, families, and retirees. She is frequently consulted as an expert for financial articles and other media.

Guy is a Portfolio Manager with Aligned Capital Partners and a Certified Financial Planner. He has taught financial planning in both college-level and master’s programs. Guy first earned his CFP designation in 1998 and later co-authored a best-selling book in 2000 with Rob Carrick of The Globe and Mail.