Awards categories

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 the adviser’s budgeting strategy and financial planning guidance.

Client Services Co-ordinator of the Year

This award recognises the nation's most effective individual in delivering a winning customer experience within financial advice. It acknowledges the outstanding performance of a client services co-ordinator or officer who excels in customer service, leading to business benefits such as increased new, repeat, and referred business, as well as a significant boost in revenue.

ESG Adviser of the Year

The ESG Adviser of the Year Award recognises an individual that has demonstrated exceptional commitment and leadership in integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles into their advice practice. This award celebrates those who have not only championed sustainable investment strategies but have also made a significant impact on promoting ethical, responsible, and impactful investing.

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.

Holistic Adviser of the Year

This award recognises an individual who provides clients with a wide range of advice services across professional disciplines, including investment and risk advice, SMSF, tax and accounting, legal and estate planning, and mortgage and credit advice.

Thought Leader of the Year

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

Innovator of the Year - Individual

This award highlights the individual who has best developed and capitalised on innovation, whether in 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 their aptitude and acumen to build a successful, client-driven advice business.

Network Impact Adviser of the Year

This award recognises exceptional financial advisers who have successfully built influential networks and leveraged social platforms to expand their reach. It also acknowledges individuals who have effectively utilised their networks to make a significant impact on the financial advice profession.

Newcomer of the Year

The advice industry has long attracted graduates and professionals seeking a career change, offering significant rewards for those who are successful. However, starting out can be challenging, and only the most driven individuals truly succeed.

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.

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 and under)

A dedicated and talented new generation is key to ensuring the ongoing success of the Australian financial advice profession. This award recognises the most outstanding young adviser in the profession, who demonstrated an exemplary commitment to success in their advice career in the 2023 calendar year.

Best Financial Advice Employer of the Year

This award recognises outstanding business entities in the financial advice profession 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 of the Year

This award recognises exceptional financial advice firms that have demonstrated outstanding leadership in achieving positive business outcomes for their practice and the financial advice profession. 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 2023, utilising a range of business development principles and tactics.

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.

Financial Impact Team of the Year

The Financial Impact Team of the Year Award recognises a team within the financial advice profession that has collectively achieved exceptional results for clients through outstanding advice and service excellence.

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 2023 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 2023 utilising a range of business development principles and tactics.

Training and Education Partner 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.

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.