In 2026, the ThinkAdvisor Luminaries Awards have broadened their scope to include a wider range of categories and awards, providing even greater opportunities to showcase your extraordinary contributions. Across five industry segments, we are accepting nominations for the following awards:
AI Innovation & Impact
This award recognizes a firm or organization that has demonstrated outstanding commitment to harnessing artificial intelligence to transform financial services. Eligible firms span the full spectrum of the industry — including RIAs, broker-dealers, asset managers, custodians, TAMPs, insurance providers, technology platforms, advisory support firms and others — and are evaluated on the depth, originality, and measurable results of their AI-driven initiatives over the past 12–18 months.
Product or Service Innovation
Honors firms that have gone above and beyond by recently introducing an incredibly interesting, dynamic and new client product or service. This innovation should be based on a new idea or inventive approach and should be producing results as measured by growth in new revenues, client assets, advisor headcount, etc.The firm should be able to show – both qualitatively and quantitatively – how their innovation is a model of industry excellence and achievement.
Thought Leadership & Education
Honors firms that have gone above and beyond in leading a firm that has introduced a new approach or framework to their segment of financial services, which address clients (or the broader market for advice) in a novel way via insights that can, ideally, be shown to have both a qualitative and quantitative impact – and can serve as a model of industry excellence and achievement. Examples include – but are not limited to – podcasts, webcasts, social media campaigns and white papers.
Digital Marketing Campaign
Honors the ingenuity and impact of digital campaigns that drive advisor growth, lead generation, thought leadership and long-term success. Entries should provide both qualitative and quantitative metrics, showcasing excellence in leveraging digital media for improved service and communication. This award celebrates digital marketing campaigns that set a benchmark for industry achievement and effectiveness.
Public Relations Campaigns
Honors the ingenuity and impact of public relations campaigns that drive advisor growth, lead generation, thought leadership and long-term success. Entries should provide both qualitative and quantitative metrics, showcasing excellence in leveraging different media for improved service and communication. This award celebrates public relations campaigns that set a benchmark for industry achievement and effectiveness.
Educational Programs
Honors the ingenuity and impact of educational programs that drive advisor growth, lead generation, thought leadership and long-term success. Entries should provide both qualitative and quantitative metrics, showcasing excellence in leveraging educational programs for improved service and communication. This award celebrates educational campaigns that set a benchmark for industry achievement and effectiveness.
CEO of the Year
Honors chief executive officers who have gone above and beyond in leading a firm that has recently demonstrated strong client service, innovation (in programs, products and/or services) or other success, which includes work on growing results as measured by revenues, client assets, advisor headcount, etc. The individual should be able to show – both qualitatively and quantitatively – how their work is a model of industry excellence and achievement in their field.
CTO of the Year
Honors chief technology officers who have gone above and beyond in leading a firm that has recently demonstrated strong client service, innovation (in programs, products and/or services) or other success, which includes work on growing results as measured by revenues, client assets, advisor headcount, etc. The CTO should be able to show – both qualitatively and quantitatively – how their work is a model of industry excellence and achievement in their field.
CMO of the Year
Honors chief marketing officers who have gone above and beyond in leading a firm that has recently demonstrated strong client service, innovation (in marketing programs, products and/or services) or other success, which includes work on growing results as measured by revenues, client assets, advisor headcount, etc. The CMO should be able to show – both qualitatively and quantitatively – how their work is a model of industry excellence and achievement in their field.
Chief Investment Officer of the Year
Honors chief investment officers who have gone above and beyond in leading a firm that has recently demonstrated strong client service, innovation (in programs, products and/or services) or other success, which includes work on growing results as measured by revenues, client assets, advisor headcount, etc. The CIO should be able to show – both qualitatively and quantitatively – how their work is a model of industry excellence and achievement in their field.
Luminaries With a Heart
Honors individuals who have gone above and beyond in their work in philanthropy; corporate social responsibility; diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI); environmental, social and governance (ESG); and/or other empowering endeavors that have a highly beneficial impact on local, national and global communities. The individuals should be able to show – both qualitatively and quantitatively – how their work is a model of industry excellence and achievement in this area.
Next-Gen Rising Stars
Honors individuals with less than 10 years of industry experience and who can demonstrate contributions to newsworthy and outstanding results – including how they helped introduce highly innovative programs/thinking, products and/or services that may be leading to or showing high potential for growth in revenues, advisor headcount, assets under management/advisement and/or other measures. The individuals should be able to describe – both qualitatively and quantitatively – how their recent work is a model of industry excellence and either current or potential impact.
M&A Leader of the Year
Honors an individual with an RIA that has gone above and beyond in terms of striking M&A deals and executing them with a strong track record of success, as measured by growth in revenues, assets, advisor headcount, etc. The individual should be able to show – both qualitatively and quantitatively – how their work is a model of industry excellence and achievement in this area.
AI Innovator of the Year
This award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated exceptional leadership in advancing the adoption, implementation, or development of artificial intelligence within the financial services industry. Ideal candidates have championed AI-driven strategies that have produced clear, measurable results — improving advisor productivity, enhancing client outcomes, streamlining operations, or reshaping business models within the past 12–18 months.
Thought Leader of the Year
Honors individuals who have gone above and beyond in leading a firm that has introduced a new approach or framework to their segment of financial services that address their clients in a novel way via insights that can, ideally, be shown to have both qualitatively and quantitatively impacts. The individuals also should be a model of industry excellence and achievement in their area of focus. Examples include – but are not limited to – podcasts, webcasts, social media campaigns and white papers.
Wholesaler of the Year
Recognizes internal or external wholesalers who exemplify excellence in advisor engagement, business development and service to the financial advisor community. Nominees should demonstrate how their efforts have driven measurable growth in key areas such as advisor relationships, product distribution, client asset acquisition or platform adoption. Judges will look for individuals who not only consistently exceed performance expectations but also bring added value through consultative support, innovative sales strategies and a deep understanding of advisor needs. Submissions should include both qualitative and quantitative evidence of the nominee’s impact and highlight how their work stands out as a model for the industry.