Wealth Management honored the winners of the 12th annual 2026 Wealth Management Industry Awards during a black-tie awards ceremony at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City on Thursday.
This year’s awards set a new record with 1,392 nominations from 508 unique companies, up from 1,210 in 2025 and nearly four times the 350 nominations submitted in the program’s inaugural year in 2015. This year’s finalist class represented 315 unique companies across 107 categories, including the Rising Star awards program. Nearly 40% of submissions recognized entirely new initiatives, underscoring the pace of change across the advisor ecosystem.
“The growth of the Wealthies reflects both the expanding range of organizations serving advisors and the extraordinary amount of work being done to help advisors build stronger businesses and improve outcomes for their clients,” said David Armstrong, head of editorial operations, Wealth Management Group, Informa Connect. “Our independent judges evaluate the usefulness, innovation, scope and impact of each initiative—not the company behind it. To be named a finalist, and especially a winner, is meaningful recognition in a year with a record field.”
The 2026 program began earlier in the day at Convene 360 Madison Avenue, where senior executives from finalist companies joined a CEO panel examining emerging risks and opportunities in the business of financial advice, new competitors and trends challenging the RIA model, and what firms now need from vendors and strategic partners. The panel was followed by a roundtable on AI’s impact on wealth management and the delivery of advice, as well as networking among industry leaders.
Several new award categories were introduced for 2026 to recognize emerging priorities across the industry, including Partnership Development Executive of the Year, Advisor Intelligence Platforms, RIA Leadership Executives of the Year, Video Series of the Year, Recruiting Firm Enterprise Executive of the Year, Corporate Innovation and Model Portfolio Selection. Together, the new categories generated 142 nominations and 59 finalists.
The 2026 winners reflected both the strength of established industry leaders and the emergence of a new generation of innovators. Several honorees extended long-standing records of achievement, demonstrating sustained excellence across changing market conditions. At the same time, several newer entrants have accumulated multiple wins in recent years, signaling fresh momentum and the rise of influential new industry leaders.
The evening also marked the introduction of the Tina Powell Inspiration Award, which will be presented annually to an individual who exemplifies Powell’s generosity and service to others. A longtime industry participant and former Wealthies judge, Powell spent two decades as one of wealth management’s most beloved voices. After receiving a stage 4 lung cancer diagnosis, she shared her journey publicly and turned an extraordinarily difficult chapter into a source of strength for others. The award honors her authenticity, courage and genuine care for the people around her.
“Tina brought an uncommon combination of courage, candor and generosity to this industry,” Armstrong said. “The Tina Powell Inspiration Award gives us a lasting way to honor her memory and recognize the people who lead with the same commitment to lifting others up.”