The Money Management Institute (MMI) announced the winners of its first-ever Thrive Trailblazer Awards during the 2026 MMI Thrive Forum held this week in New York City.
The MMI Thrive Trailblazer Awards celebrate the emerging leaders, innovative thinkers, and collaborative partners shaping the future of the MMI Thrive community. The MMI Thrive initiative is dedicated to supporting the unique needs of emerging asset managers to promote long-term growth and success. Honorees embody the spirit of Thrive: forward-looking, highly engaged, and committed to building what comes next together. These awards are unique within the industry, and are especially meaningful, as recipients are chosen by their peers – the MMI Thrive Steering Council.
The winners and categories are:
Thrive Champion Award: This award recognizes a firm that has become a cornerstone of the Thrive community in its first years, demonstrating active engagement and thought leadership.
Crossmark Global Investments
Momentum Award: This award recognizes a Thrive firm that has less than $2 billion in assets under management, showing meaningful acceleration over the past year with a focus on growth, visibility, traction, and measurable progress.
Toews Asset Management
Innovation Award: This award highlights a Thrive community firm (asset manager, data/tech provider, or wealth manager) driving meaningful innovation that benefits the Thrive community or improves access to advisors or investors.
F/m Investments
Collaboration in Action Award: This award celebrates cross-firm collaboration – Thrive members working together to advance shared goals, such as research, joint marketing, or new product concepts.
Main Management, LLC
“The Thrive Trailblazer Awards celebrate the firms that show up, lean in, and help move our community forward,” said Joel Schiffman, Director of MMI Thrive. “Our honorees represent the very best of the Thrive community and demonstrate a clear investment in what we’re all working to build. Being recognized by their peers makes this honor all the more special and underscores the impact they are making.”
Recipients are selected based on early engagement across Thrive events, initiatives, and projects – with a focus on collaboration, contributions, progress, and partnership. Together, these firms reflect what it means to lead with purpose and invest in the collective progress of the Thrive community.
About MMI Thrive:
MMI Thrive is the premier destination for emerging asset managers (EAMs) managing less than $25 billion in retail advisory assets under management. As part of MMI membership, Thrive provides a collaborative platform for smaller and mid-sized firms to connect with peers, platform providers, and distribution partners across the asset and wealth management ecosystem. Through curated insights, community engagement, and tailored events, participants gain access to timely perspectives on distribution, product development, and regulatory trends. The initiative also facilitates connections with specialized vendors and sponsors, supporting participating firms with the resources and relationships needed to support long-term growth and success. For more information, visit www.mminst.org/thrive.
About the Money Management Institute (MMI):
Established in 1997, the Money Management Institute (MMI) is the industry association for financial services firms, serving as the leading catalyst and resource for the advancement of investment advice. MMI advances the wealth and asset management industries through connections, knowledge, and professional growth. We are committed to fostering collaboration, supporting diversity of thought, sharing expertise, and driving innovation. By championing best practices and encouraging open dialogue in investment advice, we empower firms and professionals to better serve clients and investors in an ever-evolving world. We offer our members premier professional development programs, specialized curriculums, invaluable thought leadership, and dynamic peer-to-peer networks.
Our membership spans wealth managers, asset managers, and solutions providers of all sizes, with professionals representing every functional area of the financial services ecosystem. Together, we are shaping the future of investment advice. Follow MMI on LinkedIn.
Media Contact:
Josephine Orsini
First Vice President, Director of Marketing Communications
Money Management Institute
646.868.8504
jorsini@mminst.org
