Shalton to take over as IFP president

Marlene Shalton of Bluefin Wealth Management is to be appointed president of the Institute of Financial Planning (IFP) at the IFP annual conference later this month.

Shalton (pictured) will succeed Barry Horner, director of Paradigm Norton Financial Planning, while Bruce Wilson, managing director of Helm Godfrey, will be appointed IFP vice-president.

IFP chief executive Nick Cann praised Horner for his work and welcomed Shalton as the new president.

'Our thanks go to Barry for his significant contribution to the development of our profession over the past four years, initially as IFP vice president and subsequently as president,' he said.

'The next two years will see the RDR proposals reach a conclusion, representing a significant period of growth and opportunity in the financial planning profession,' he added.

'With the IFP being in a position to offer total career support for financial planners and financial planning businesses for the first time, Marlene’s enthusiasm and experience will be a great asset to us in working towards our goals.'

Shalton lent the IFP £50,000 in 2008 as it struggled to meet the costs of its annual conference as markets fell and sufficient sponsorship failed to materialise.