The Money Management Institute (MMI), in collaboration with Barron’s, has announced the finalists for the 2026 MMI/Barron’s Industry Awards, recognizing firms whose innovations, leadership, and commitment to better investor and advisor outcomes are helping shape the future of the industry.
Now in its 18th year, the awards celebrate excellence across 12 categories spanning asset management, wealth management platforms, technology, marketing, education, and community impact. Selected from a highly competitive field of nominations, this year’s finalists represent many of the industry’s most forward-thinking firms.
“Being named a finalist for an MMI/Barron's Industry Award is a meaningful recognition of the innovation and measurable impact these organizations are delivering across our industry,” said Craig Pfeiffer, President and CEO of MMI. “Each year, the caliber of submissions continues to rise, making selection as a finalist increasingly competitive. We congratulate this year's finalists for helping advance solutions and improve outcomes for financial advisors and the clients they serve.”
The finalists by award category are:
Digital Innovation: Honoring a new technological innovation or specific enhancement to an existing platform, service or tool that enhances the investor and/or advisor experience with advisory solutions.
- Bank of America Merrill Lynch – AI Powered Meeting Journey
- Concurrent Investment Advisors – Concurrent Apex AI
- Vanilla - V/AI – Vanilla’s Proprietary AI for Estate Planning
Distribution Innovation: Honoring firms that provide exemplary and innovative sales support both in the field and from the home office.
- AllianceBernstein – AllianceBernstein Sales Enablement Team
- T. Rowe Price – T. Rowe Price Dial-a-Note Custom GPT Follow-Up
- Touchstone Investments – Practice Analysis Review (PAR)
- UBS Advisory Sales & Consulting – The Targeted G.R.O.W. Partnership Framework
Doing Good: Honoring firm-wide initiatives that actively contribute to the betterment of our communities and address specific needs within them.
- Concurrent Investment Advisors – Concurrent Cares
- Core Spaces – Camp Out for Kids
- Financial Planning Association – FPA Pro Bono Initiatives
- Hartford Funds – A Commitment to Learning Without Limits
Investment Product Innovation: Honoring groundbreaking and impactful investment strategies and product innovations that advance the investment advisory industry.
- Calamos Investments – Calamos Autocallable Income ETFs: Democratizing the largest segment of the structured product market
- Fundrise – VCX by Fundrise
- Global Macro Asset Management – CompactDI
- Grayscale Investments – Grayscale Avalanche Staking ETF (Ticker: GAVA), Grayscale Sui Staking ETF (Ticker: GSUI), Grayscale Hyperliquid Staking ETF (Ticker: HYPG)
Marketing Campaign of the Year: Honoring the most innovative, creative, and impactful marketing campaigns that have elevated brand visibility and made an impact on the industry.
- Bank of America Merrill Lynch – CIO Investor Café: A Strategic Response to Market Volatility
- Goldman Sachs Asset Management – “Relentless” Active ETF Campaign
- Nuveen – Invest Like the Future Is Watching
Thought Leadership/Education: Honoring new programs, research, educational campaigns, or content that meaningfully advance industry knowledge and understanding of topics key to the future of advisory solutions.
- Fidelity Charitable – Fidelity Charitable OBBBA
- Financial Planning Association – Financial Planning Association's Competency Model
- Raymond James Financial – Longevity Planning
- RFG Advisory – RFG Advisory’s StrongHer Money
Wealth Management Advisory Platform of the Year: Honoring a wealth management advisory platform that exemplifies innovation in delivering better outcomes for investors and financial advisors.
- Cetera Financial Group – My Advice Architect Advisory Platform / Unified Program
- Edward Jones - Edward Jones Investment Advisory Platform
- Morgan Stanley - Morgan Stanley's Single Advisory Platform
Asset Manager of the Year (AUM <$25 billion): Honoring a smaller asset manager that exemplifies innovation in delivering better outcomes for investors and financial advisors.
- BondBloxx – BondBloxx and IR+M tax-aware ETF suite
- Grayscale Investments – Thought Leadership Initiatives
- Tortoise Capital Advisors – Tortoise Capital Advisors
Asset Manager of the Year (AUM Between $25-$500 billion): Honoring a mid-size asset manager that exemplifies innovation in delivering better outcomes for investors and financial advisors.
- Calamos Investments – Calamos Autocallable Income ETFs
- EQT – EQIC
Asset Manager of the Year (AUM >$500 billion): Honoring a larger asset manager that exemplifies innovation in delivering better outcomes for investors and financial advisors.
- Fidelity Investments – Fidelity Expands Active ETF Lineup, Offering Superior Value, Choice, and Innovation
- Goldman Sachs Asset Management – Goldman Sachs MSCI World Private Equity Return Tracker ETF (GTPE) and the “Relentless” Active ETF Campaign
- T. Rowe Price – Premier Global Active Manager: Advancing Advisor Outcomes Through Innovation in Active ETFs, Model Portfolios, Alternatives, and Retirement Income Solutions
Technology/Solutions Provider of the Year – Emerging Technologies: Honoring a technology or service provider for an early-stage or niche technological innovation that demonstrates strong potential to impact the investment advisory solutions industry.
- Allocate – Allocate Platform
- Fiduciary Exchange, LLC (FIDx) – Fiduciary Exchange, LLC (FIDx)
- Reflexivity – Reflexivity
- Vanilla – Estate Planning Platform
Technology/Solutions Provider of the Year – Technology Integration: Honoring a technology or service provider that excels at integrating multiple tools, services, or data sources to create seamless and comprehensive advisory ecosystems.
- Advyzon – Advyzon 3.0 and Advyzon AI
- CAIS – CAIS Enterprise Integration Suite
- FINTRX – AI Platform Integrations via MCP
- Zocks – Zocks, the AI Assistant for Financial Advisors
“The firms recognized as finalists this year demonstrate how innovation and thoughtful execution continue to move the industry forward,” said Jack Otter, Global Head of Wealth & Asset Management at Dow Jones, publisher of Barron's. “Whether through technology, investment solutions, education, or client experience, these organizations are setting a high standard for excellence and helping define what's next for advisors and investors alike.”
Finalists will now advance to the final stage of the awards program, where representatives from MMI member firms will vote to determine this year's winners. Award recipients will be announced during the 2026 MMI Annual Conference in October, where the industry will gather to celebrate excellence and innovation across the investment advisory solutions ecosystem.
About the MMI/Barron’s Industry Awards Program
Nominations are reviewed and evaluated by the specially appointed MMI Industry Awards Steering Council. The Steering Council consists of representatives from all segments of the MMI membership.
The Steering Council looked for innovative, needle-moving programs and initiatives that measurably advance the investment advisory solutions industry and deliver improved outcomes for financial advisors and investors. After carefully reviewing the nominations submitted, the Steering Council determined a slate of finalists in each award category. The main contacts at each of MMI’s member firms are eligible to vote to determine the winners in each category.
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:
Paul Zettl
Chief Marketing Officer
Money Management Institute
646.868.8528 | pzettl@mminst.org
