ThinkAdvisor Luminaries Logo 2026 Blue New 640
Nominations are open for the 2026 ThinkAdvisor Luminaries Awards.
The sixth annual awards will highlight excellence in financial services and shine a spotlight on outstanding accomplishments from individuals and organizations in the industry.
New Luminaries awards will be given for AI Innovation & Impact at a wide variety of firms — from asset managers, broker-dealers and RIAs to financial technology (or fintech) companies.
In the broader award category for Product or Service Innovation, firms can also nominate themselves for breakthroughs in technology — including artificial intelligence — and other areas, such as new exchange-traded funds and advisor affiliation programs.
A panel of independent judges made up of distinguished industry professionals will select the winners, who will be recognized at an awards ceremony Dec. 3 at the New York Hilton Midtown.
What are the ThinkAdvisor Luminaries Awards?
The ThinkAdvisor Luminaries Awards honor outstanding individuals and firms in the financial services industry. Recognizing excellence beyond traditional metrics, such as asset growth or product enhancements, the awards focus on exemplary leadership, groundbreaking innovation and outstanding community impact by both firms and individuals.
ThinkAdvisor's Luminaries Awards have broadened their scope with new nomination categories to highlight a wider range of exemplary talent and leadership within the industry.
Who's eligible for nomination?
Nominations are open to individuals and organizations that work in five key segments of the financial services industry:
- Advisory Support Products and Services
- AI Innovation & Impact
- Financial Advisory and Asset Management Firms
- Marketing/PR Services
- Technology Platforms, Products and Services
Both firms and individuals can submit nominations across several different award categories, which will spotlight excellence in executive leadership, innovation, thought leadership, community service and other areas.
When do nominations close for the 2026 Luminaries Awards?
Nominations are open until June 26.
What information/data do I need to apply for the awards?
All final entries must be submitted online via the nomination portal.
Submissions for individual nominees must include a professional headshot image. Submissions for organization nominees must include a high-resolution image of the company's logo. All images must be in color and in .jpg format, with a minimum resolution of 300 dpi.
Supplemental materials, such as files, documents, images and links to public webpages, short videos or campaigns, are acceptable.
Nominations must convey quantitative and qualitative results regarding the nominee's industry impact and accomplishments. We ask those submitting nominations to support their entries and statements with backup information, and we love facts and figures.
Don't just tell us the nominee's accomplishments; show us by sharing a brief story that illustrates their achievements. Please do not submit any information that should be kept confidential.
Is there a fee for nominations?
No, there is no cost to submit a nomination. Submission to this award program, as well as all of ThinkAdvisor's related editorial content, is free.
How many nominations can I submit?
There is no limit to the number of nominations that you can submit. We encourage you to limit your entries to the individuals and organizations that have made recent indelible impacts on both their respective firms and the financial services industry.
Submitters may also nominate a candidate for more than one category; however, you must submit a separate nomination for each particular category.
Can I nominate myself?
Yes. We accept self-nominations, as well as third-party submissions.
I was previously selected as a Luminaries finalist and/or winner. Can I be nominated again this year?
Yes. Each year, the Luminaries finalists and winners are chosen based on their merits. You may nominate a previously chosen Luminaries finalist and/or winner. However, we ask that you update your submission to highlight relevant accomplishments and recent endeavors. (See information about ThinkAdvisor's 2025 Luminaries finalists here.)
Oops! I need to change something on my submission.
No problem! Click here to view or modify your entry.
How and when will the 2026 Luminaries finalists and winners be notified of their selection?
ThinkAdvisor will send email notifications to the Luminaries finalists and those who submitted these nominations in late August. The 2026 Luminaries winners will be announced on stage at the ThinkAdvisor Luminaries Awards dinner.
How will the 2026 Luminaries be recognized?
The 2026 finalists will be listed on the Luminaries Awards website and on ThinkAdvisor by early September. The 2026 Luminaries winners will be announced and honored on stage at the sixth annual ThinkAdvisor Luminaries Awards gala.
The winners will also be featured in year-round coverage on ThinkAdvisor starting in December and will receive additional recognition via ThinkAdvisor's social media channels and email newsletters.
How does the judging process work?
Upon the submission deadline, ThinkAdvisor's editorial staff and its Luminaries advisory board review each nomination without bias to select the finalists. Then, a panel of independent judges made up of leaders in the financial services industry select the winners.
The judges work diligently to consider each nominee's different accomplishments and contributions and base their decisions on factors in correlation with the awards' criteria.
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