Open to individuals of all identities who have supported and empowered women to fulfil their potential and achieve excellence within the workplace. Nominees must be able to demonstrate their impact over the past 12 months and be based in the US.

This award goes to the woman in a C-Suite role, in any facet of the wealth management industry, who has demonstrated exceptional leadership over the past 12 months, inspiring their organization to new levels of growth and success.

Nominees must be in a C-Suite role within an advisory network, broker-dealer, advisory firm, fund company, or service provider to advisors.

When judging this category, the following criteria will be considered:

• The female executive’s vision, leadership, engagement of workforce, commitment to the wealth management industry and their industry reputation.
• The female executive’s commitment to corporate values (e.g. ESG, innovation, customer care, knowledge and education)
• Corporate growth, achievements, recognition and performance, reflective of their leadership
• Championship of other female professionals within their organization and the industry as a whole

Open to all US-based women and non-binary in the wealth department. 

This award recognizes the outstanding female trailblazer in the wealth management and financial planning and is open to anyone in the industry whose astounding personal and professional achievements have earned them a place among the industry’s best.

Self nominations are welcomed.

When judging this category, the following criteria will be considered:

• Women in any facet of the industry, including those who have founded firms or created a unique innovation, such as type of portfolio, product, industry program or trailblazed in other unique ways
• Women who have innovated in measurable ways, bringing results that benefit the firm, the industry and/or their community and that has demonstrably advanced their own careers.
• Professional accomplishments over the past 5 years (e.g. innovative business initiatives in which the nominee played a critical role)
• Evidence that the individual is involved in the promotion, influence and championing of women within the wealth management and financial planning industry
• Other relevant accolades and involvements (charitable work, accomplishments outside the industry, leadership or professional associations, etc.)

The goal of financial literacy is to empower others with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to make informed financial decisions. This award will recognize a truly exceptional financial professional (in any facet of the industry) who has demonstrated leadership and commitment to bettering the lives of individuals and families by promoting financial literacy and actively working to educate members of their community.

Nominees should be involved in a financial literacy initiative (including but not limited to classroom training, workshops, mobile app) that engages their audience and inspires them to take positive action towards their own financial well-being. This individual commits their time, financial support, and/or resources to improving the lives of others through educating adults, seniors, or children. To be eligible, nominees must be active and involved in an initiative starting January 1, 2024 onwards.

This award recognizes and celebrates a female leader with a minimum of 15 years’ experience who has contributed greatly to the advancement of the wealth management and financial planning industry in the US.

This individual will have exhibited leadership and provided inspiration to others, whilst putting the interests of the industry at the top of their priorities throughout their career.

This award is eligible to female senior leaders; firm founders; innovator/inventors; and highly influential thought leaders whose perspective and advocacy has had a transformational effect.

There is no shortlist of excellence awardees for this category. Nominations will be evaluated by the InvestmentNews team and the selected recipient of this award will be contacted 3-4 weeks before the awards event and will be announced at the awards ceremony. 

This award recognizes the most outstanding female portfolio manager, based in the US, who has displayed excellence over the past 12 months.

Eligible nominees are portfolio/discretionary managers (in the advisor channel or the private discretionary division), who are working directly with investor clients / families.

Self nominations are welcomed.

When judging this category, the following criteria will be considered:

• Must be licensed as a portfolio/discretionary manager in the US
• Exemplary business development strategies to prospect and retain clients in innovative ways.
• Knowledge, understanding and communication of investment opportunities and strategies for their clients’ portfolios
• Client retention & relationship strategies & how it sets the portfolio manager apart from competition with a unique value proposition
• Examples of ways that the portfolio manager is educating the industry/clientele on investment strategies
• Approach to regulatory compliance

This award recognizes the outstanding female advisor who has displayed excellence in their first three years as an advisor.

To be eligible, nominees must have been accredited as an advisor on or after January 1, 2022.

Self nominations are welcomed.

When judging this category, the following criteria will be considered: 

• Must be a licensed advisor that has established a book of business no earlier than Jan 1, 2022
• Knowledge, understanding and communication of investment opportunities and strategies for their clients’ portfolios
• Client retention & relationship strategies & how it sets the advisor apart from competition with a unique value proposition
• Examples of ways that the advisor has established themselves with their clients and peers in a short period of time
• Approach to regulatory compliance