CHRIS O'Meara, a financial adviser and director of Lifestyle Financial Consultancy Ltd in Hereford, has been awarded the much-coveted Chartered Financial Planner title by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII).

Mr O'Meara, who belongs to the Personal Finance Society, a part of the CII Group, is thrilled at the award: "This is the highest qualification for people in my profession, so I am extremely proud to have the title. For me, it is testimony to a career-long commitment to providing a professional service to my clients.

"The CII is the industry's recognised guardian of professionalism. Through the work of the Personal Finance Society, it is boosting the quality of financial advice provision by ensuring its members are knowledgeable, ethical and constantly in pursuit of the highest standards."

Lifestyle Financial Consultancy Ltd has been established in Herefordshire since 2001.