Awards categories

Best Adviser Network - Social

The award recognises exceptional financial advisers who have successfully built influential networks, distribution channels and social platforms. This award celebrates individuals who have effectively utilised their resources to make a significant impact on the financial advice industry.

Client Outcome of the Year

This award recognises the individual adviser who has made the biggest impact on a client’s financial wellbeing. This could involve a client successfully transitioning into retirement, helping a client through a difficult claims process, or seeing a client buy their first home as a result of your budgeting strategy and financial planning guidance.

Compliance Consultant of the Year

This award recognises a leading compliance, risk, legal or licensing consultant who supports the independent advice sector via service to advisers and firms and can effectively demonstrate that their role and advice have transformed and helped improve best practice and professionalism in the independent advice market.

Dealer Group Executive of the Year

This award recognises the individual chief executive, executive or senior manager of an independent or independently-minded dealer group who has built the most successful business over the past calendar year.

Success will be measured by the individual adviser and collective advice capabilities of the company, growth and retention of advisers and other team members, plus the success of the business in terms of revenue and profitability.

Holistic Adviser of the Year

This award recognises an individual who offers clients a multitude of advice services and professional disciplines, such as investment and risk advice, SMSF, tax and accounting, legal and estate planning, and mortgage and credit advice.

Industry Thought Leader of The Year

This professional or executive is able to clearly articulate the desired direction of the industry and draw upon best practice from other relevant industries and markets to champion the growth and development of the sector.

The recipient of this award will personify business leadership, be entrepreneurial and committed to the independent advice sector, plus be a public advocate for independent advice. They will also support the growth of new industry entrants as well as the delivery of training, education and mentoring.

Innovator of the Year - Individual

This award highlights the individual who has best developed and capitalised on innovation – whether it’s related to advice delivery, client engagement, portfolio construction, service, business development, technology, staff/client management, or any other relevant area.

Investment Adviser of the Year

This award recognises Australia’s top investment advice specialist, considering not only the delivery of best practice advice across investment management and portfolio construction, but also the aptitude and acumen to build a successful, client-driven advice business.

Marketing Consultant of the Year

This award recognises a leading marketing, PR or communications professional who supports the ifa sector via the provision of services to advisers and firms, and can effectively demonstrate that their role and advice have transformed and helped improve reputation, best practice and professionalism in the ifa market.

Newcomer of The Year

The advice industry has long attracted graduates – or other professionals seeking a career change – with big upsides for those who are successful. While the rewards are significant, starting up can be a challenge, and only the driven can truly succeed.

This award recognises Australia’s top adviser (whether risk, investment, SMSF or all), considering not only the delivery of best practice advice but also the aptitude and acumen to build a solid advice business and client proposition. As well as these key skills, the Newcomer of the Year will demonstrate their potential as a future industry leader.

Paraplanner of the Year

This award recognises the paraplanner who has proven to be an invaluable asset to their practice. Support staff are often overlooked and this award is aimed at those who have dedicated their time to ongoing learning, professional development and clearly demonstrate a passion for the financial planning profession.

Practice Principal of the Year

This award recognises the individual owner or managing director of a boutique, self-licensed financial planning firm who has built the most successful business over the past calendar year.

Success will be measured by the individual adviser and collective advice capabilities of the firm, growth and retention of advisers and other team members, plus the success of the business in terms of revenue and profitability.

Regional Adviser of the Year

This award recognises Australia’s top regional adviser, considering not only the delivery of best practice advice, but also customer service delivery and their aptitude and acumen in building a solid advice business. This award also recognises those who have had a positive impact on their local community.

Risk Adviser of the Year

This award recognises Australia’s top risk or life insurance advice specialist, considering not only the delivery of best practice advice, but also their aptitude and acumen in building a solid advice business.

SMSF Adviser of the Year

This award recognises Australia’s top SMSF advice specialist, considering not only the delivery of best practice advice but also their aptitude and acumen in offering trusted, tailored and specialist advice that underpins business growth.

Transformation of the Year - Individual

The financial advice sector is undergoing a significant transformation. This award recognises the financial adviser who has taken a proactive approach to the new environment and has made the necessary changes to thrive in the profession.

Young Adviser of the Year (30 years or under)

A dedicated and talented new generation is key to ensuring the ongoing success of the Australian financial advice. This award recognises the most outstanding young adviser in the industry, who demonstrated an exemplary commitment to success in their advice career in the 2022 calendar year.
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Best Financial Advice Employer

This award recognises outstanding business entities in the financial advisory industry that have demonstrated exceptional employment criteria and created an environment that fosters a positive and rewarding experience for their employees. This award celebrates organisations that prioritise employee wellbeing and satisfaction along with other crucial aspects of employment.

Business Outcome Leader

This award recognises exceptional financial advice firms that have demonstrated outstanding leadership in achieving positive business outcomes for their practice and the financial advisory industry. This award celebrates companies that have excelled in delivering measurable results, driving growth, and making a significant impact in their profession.

Client Servicing Company of the Year

This award recognises the nation’s most effective advice firm when it comes to delivering a winning customer experience, taking into account the business benefits associated with effective customer service/satisfaction, such as the uplift in new, repeat and referred business and accompanying increase in revenue.

Dealer Group of the Year

This award recognises the dealer group that has most effectively driven business growth during 2022, utilising a range of business development principles and tactics.

This award considers the activities, strategies and actions of the group in terms of adviser recruitment and retention, as well as the success of individual advisers in supporting the corporate’s overall growth and development.

Digital Advice Strategy of the Year

The past several years have instigated a real digital transformation which has seen more and more advice clients seek online tools and mobile functionality.

With this rapid innovation and evolution of technology, the way advisers deliver their services has changed considerably.

Holistic Advice Firm of the Year

This award recognises the company that can offer clients a multitude of advice services to look after their overall financial wellbeing, such as investment/risk advice, SMSF, tax and accounting, legal and estate planning, mortgage, and credit advice.

Innovator of the Year - Company

This award highlights the business that has best developed or capitalised on innovation – whether it’s related to advice delivery, client engagement, portfolio construction, service, business development, technology, social media, staff/client management or any other relevant area.

Marketing Program of the Year

Financial advice firms are increasingly recognising the bottom-line benefits of having an effective and strategic marketing program. This award recognises the financial advice firm in Australia that best utilised marketing to win new clients and drive business growth during the 2022 calendar year.

Self-Licensed Firm of the Year

This award recognises the self-licensed financial advice firm that has most effectively driven business growth during 2022 utilising a range of business development principles and tactics.

This award considers the activities, strategies and actions of the firm in terms of adviser recruitment and retention, as well as the success of individual advisers in supporting the firm’s overall growth and development. It also recognises strong progress over the past 12 months in terms of funds under advice (FUA).

Training and Education Provider of the Year

Training and education providers play an essential role in providing the means by which financial advisers can achieve their professional development and educational requirements.

This award recognises the training and education provider that is committed to providing quality training to financial advice professionals.

Transformation of the Year - Company

The financial advice sector is undergoing a significant transformation. This award recognises the financial advice practice, dealer group, or professional association that has taken a proactive approach to the new environment and has made the necessary changes to thrive in the profession.

Wellness Program/Initiative of the Year

This award recognises a financial advice firm in Australia that has actively advocated for health and wellness initiatives, events and/or activities among their peers and the community at large.