The International Adviser Best Practice Awards for the global financial advice community are returning for 2026, and there are 10 revamped categories to enter.
IA’s associate editor Laura Purkess said: “These awards are a brilliant way for firms to showcase how they’re consistently providing a top-tier service for their clients and be recognised for going one step further than the industry standard and striving for genuine quality.
“We’re thrilled to be able to bring these awards back for another year to celebrate the best practice in the advisory and wealth management community and strongly encourage firms to enter.”
The full list of categories are as follows:
Best Adviser Firm established under three years
This award is for firms that have been operating as a trading entity for three years or less, as at 1 January 2025.
Best Support Team
This award is for the backoffice team(s) in your business.
Excellence in Investment Planning
This award is for firms that can highlight how they appropriately use tools to assess attitude to risk, and who demonstrate a thorough approach to due diligence and evidence of consistently above-average client satisfaction ratings.
Excellence in Digital Innovation
This award is for adviser firms leading the way with ground-breaking innovations and partnerships.
Excellence in Professional Development
This award is for firms that go beyond regulatory requirements and create a professional development strategy for all staff at every level of their business.
Best ESG Initiative
We want to showcase great internal and external ESG initiatives at firms.
Excellence in Business Strategy
This award is for firms that have excelled in building a sustainable business underpinned by clear strategic vision.
Excellence in Client Service
This award is for advisers who offer clients advice and solutions perfectly matched to their needs and provide top class service.
Best Adviser Firm – by region
To enter this category, firms must submit an entry in at least one other category. Entries must then demonstrate successful development, profitable growth over time, a genuinely customer-centric approach, and excellence in compliance and risk management.
Rising Star
The Rising Star award is designed to recognise new talent for anyone up to 40 years-old.
