Financial planning software developer PlanPlus has selected two inaugural winners of its PlanPlus Global Financial Planning Awards.

The first place winner from the Americas region is Canadian certified financial planner Sandra Mews. The winner from the Asia region is James Kenny, from Australia.

This year’s prize included an all-expense paid trip to the Financial Planning Association Experience 2013 Conference in Orlando, where the awards were presented on Saturday.

The awards provide recognition to some of the top financial planners in the world based on their demonstration of outstanding financial advice with the best interests of the client clearly highlighted.

With the permission of their client, financial planners from anywhere in the world, and in any language, were able to submit an actual financial plan they had completed in a client engagement for evaluation by a panel of five judges for each region. Submissions closed on September 2, and the judges evaluated all entrants and shortlisted the two examples they felt best reflect the ideals of the profession. The two finalists were then interviewed by the judges to allow the selection the winners.

The first runner-up for the Americas region was Robert Schmansky, from West Bloomfield, Mich. and the first runner-up in Asia was Gavin Teoh Hock Geh, from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

“Over the past decade we have witnessed the emergence of financial planning as a profession on a global scale”, said Shawn Brayman, president and CEO of PlanPlus. “Because PlanPlus has the privilege of working with planners from over 30 countries ranging from the most developed to frontier and emerging countries, we felt we should give back to the community. Aside from the recognition, the award will allow these world-class planners to share their story with their peers at FPA Experience where planners from over 20 countries are gathering to continue to raise the bar for the profession.”

Based in Lindsay, Ont., PlanPlus Inc. has develops software tools and training for financial institutions, professional advisors and investors to perform personal financial and investment planning.