2008 Donald J. Johnston Award

Toronto, May 12, 2008 — Mr. Jim Rogers (photo) is the 2008 recipient of the Donald J. Johnston Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Profession of Financial Planning in Canada (DJJ Award). He is the third recipient since its inception in 2006.

Selected by the FPSC DJJ Award Committee, the veteran of a 40-year career in financial services will be formally presented with the award in a ceremony at the Annual FPSC Board of Directors Reception in St. John's, Newfoundland on June 11. The award comes with a $10,000 contribution to the charitable organization(s) of his choice.

"I'm thrilled that FPSC has chosen to honour me this way. It is a privilege to be acknowledged with such a prestigious award- particularly in light of previous award recipients," said Rogers, founder and now chairman of Rogers Group Financial, the largest independently-owned financial advisory firm in Canada.

"Jim exemplifies what the DJJ award is all about," says Cheryl Bauer Hyde, Chair of the Board of FPSC. "His commitment, service, and contribution to the profession of financial planning over the years have been stellar. He's made a tremendous difference and has helped advance this profession."

Industry commentator and former Chair of the Ontario Securities Commission Glorianne Stromberg was one of several industry notables who nominated Rogers. She wrote: "Jim has attained the highest level of skill and competence and business judgment in his financial services business. His work reflects his integrity and his commitment to the ethics that form the foundation of the standards on which the financial planning profession is built."

Rogers requests the donation associated with the Award be equally divided between Sancta Maria House, Vancouver (a shelter for abused women and women from the street) and Project Advance, in care of St. John the Apostle Parish, Vancouver. Project Advance is a Roman Catholic Church initiative which funds diocese-wide projects of the Archdiocese of Vancouver.

About the Award Recipient

Jim Rogers is noted for a long list of academic, industry and community service achievements. In 1974 he founded Rogers Group Financial Ltd. He grew the company to become one of Vancouver's most respected independent financial planning firms.

He steadfastly built a culture of financial planning and education, and authored a best-seller titled Life Insurance for Canadians.

In 2007, Rogers became president of the Chicago-based Million Dollar Round Table, the largest international association of insurance and financial advisors, with about 35,500 members worldwide.

He has been a strong advocate for the financial planning community for many years. He served as chair for two years of CAIFA (the Canadian Association of Insurance & Financial Advisors — now Advocis). He spearheaded a mandate that every member obtain a financial planning designation. He has worked on countless industry committees over the years, including those with FPSC, and has mentored many new entrants along the way.

As a professional, he continuously honed his own skills and earned both academic credentials (including an MBA) as well as several industry designations. He was one of the first advisors to achieve CFP certification. He has been quoted as saying: "If you hold yourself out as a financial advisor, you should be held to a fiduciary standard."

Rogers has an exemplary record of community service, including roles with boards of St. Paul's Hospital, St. Vincent's Hospital Foundation, Vancouver College, The United Way, the Senate of the University of British Columbia and others.

About the Award

The Donald J. Johnston Award was created in honour of FPSC's first and founding CEO, Don Johnston who retired in 2006. Its purpose is also to annually celebrate 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 interest. The charitable contribution associated with the award celebrates the spirit of a community of financial planning professionals who say "helping people" is the most rewarding aspect of their careers.

The criteria on which the selection is made include: personal contribution to the advancement of the status of the profession and advancement of the standards of the profession; personal reflection/embodiment of the profession; industry visibility and knowledge and impact of contribution.

This year's nominees were reviewed by an Award Committee of six voting members, all independent of FPSC. Says Ann Bowman, VP, Communications and Corporate Relations, "The FPSC Board feels it is important that the Award Committee is comprised of individuals who bring various perspectives, reflecting the diverse realities of the industry and this developing profession, and who are not currently directly affiliated with FPSC."

About Financial Planners Standards Council

Financial Planners Standards Council (FPSC) is a not-for-profit organization established in 1995 to lead the development of the financial planning profession. FPSC develops and enforces the most rigorous standards in financial planning competency and ethics for individuals who hold CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® certification in Canada. These individuals are licensed by FPSC to use the registered marks: CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® and CFP (with flame logo)®. There are currently more than 17,000 CFP professionals in Canada and almost 112,000 individuals who have earned CFP certification in 20 countries around the world.

NOTE TO EDITORS: For further information on FPSC and CFP certification, please visit our online media kit at www.cfp-ca.org/media/media_mediakit.asp.

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FOR MEDIA INTERVIEWS AND FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Heather Mills/FPSC at 416.593.8587 ext. 235 or hmills@fpsccanada.org

Angela Rea/Chadnick Communications at 905.304.0923 or eileen@chadnick.com.