Joseph G. P. Bonello, who set up the first company to offer a holistic financial planning approach, the Financial Planning Services, died on Tuesday, aged 69.

Mr Bonello started as a bank clerk with the National Bank of Malta (today BOV) before resigning to become self-employed in financial services.

In 1975 he set up independently, operating under the name Financial Planning Services, which became a limited liability company on 9 February 1977.

In 1976 Joe was elected a Fellow of the Life Insurance Association (UK).

Mr Bonello has served as an official of the Stockbrokers Committee (today the College of Stockbrokers) and on the Financial Services Consultation Council of the Malta Financial Services Authority.

He has served as a Director on the board of the Water Services Corporation and the Housing Authority, and as Deputy Chairman of Public Broadcasting Services.

In a statement, the Nationalist Party said Mr Bonello will we remembered as one of the most influential experts in the financial services sector. It expressed its condolences to the Bonello family.