Young Financial Planner Awards 2026


Money Marketing is proud to champion the next generation of financial planning professionals.

The Young Financial Planner Awards 2026 (YFPAs) celebrate the emerging talent shaping the future of the profession, shining a spotlight on those at the start of their careers who are already making a meaningful impact.

Whether you are a graduate trainee, administrator, paraplanner or financial planner, the YFPAs offer an opportunity to gain recognition for your passion, achievements and potential.

The awards also include categories recognising outstanding teams and specialists in areas such as marketing, sustainability and social responsibility.

The timing could hardly be more important. The financial advice profession faces a significant demographic challenge, with many experienced advisers expected to retire over the coming years and concerns remaining about the pipeline of new talent entering the sector.

That is why it is so important to recognise and celebrate those who are building their careers in the profession today. The YFPAs exist to showcase the individuals and teams who represent the future of financial planning – those bringing fresh ideas, new perspectives and a commitment to delivering great outcomes for clients.

By highlighting their achievements, we hope to inspire others to follow in their footsteps and help secure a strong future for the profession.

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How to enter

Think you or someone you know has what it takes to be one of the brightest rising stars in financial planning?

Here’s how to get involved:

Step 1: Choose Your Categories

Start by exploring the award categories and deciding where your strengths shine. Whether you're a client-facing adviser or supporting the financial planning process as an administrator or paraplanner, there is a category for you. We have also included categories covering marketing and sustainability expertise.

Eligible Roles:

We welcome entries from anyone working in UK-based financial planning services. That includes roles in:

  • Financial advice
  • Paraplanning
  • Administration
  • Marketing and communications
  • Sustainability

Whether you're just getting started or already showing leadership potential, we want to hear from you.

All entrants must be aged 35 or under.

Nomination Limits: You can be nominated in up to a maximum of three categories, so don’t be shy about putting yourself forward where you think you belong.

Please ensure you carefully review the entry criteria for your category and entry guidelines.


View entry guidelines

Step 2: Submit Your Entry

Each entry will involve a short online submission form via a series of questions where you'll highlight key achievements, impact, and innovation, Share your vision for the future of financial planning and most importantly, why you believe you deserve your award.

You can nominate yourself or a colleague, and we strongly encourage peers and managers to support rising talent by making nominations too.

All eligible and verified entries will create a shortlist, which will be announced online in August.

Entries open on Tuesday 9 June and close on Friday 3 July.


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Step 3: Shine in Front of Industry Leaders

Shortlisted nominees will be reviewed by a panel of expert judges from across the financial services industry in July, who will create a shortlist of the strongest candidates, which will be announced in August.

The judges seek candidates with a passion for positive change in their workplace, sector, or client outcomes. Candidates should provide evidence that they go above and beyond in their roles. The awards focus on achievements from the past 18 months, with particular emphasis on accomplishments since June 2025.

It’s your chance to showcase your skills, your passion for the profession, and your potential to shape the future.

YFPA 2026 Categories

View the categories and criteria below. Our judges will review entries and compile a shortlist.

Please read the entry guidelines before you get started.

If you have any queries, please get in touch with Megan Trappitt.

Entries close on Friday 3 July

This award recognises an individual who has demonstrated exceptional initiative and delivered tangible, positive outcomes for their business. Their proactive approach and commitment to excellence have created enduring benefits, significantly enhancing training efficiency. In a short time, they have built trust and respect through their dedication, professionalism, and reliable support.

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Emerging Talent of the Year – Graduate Trainee

Entry Form Criteria

All entrants must be aged 35 or under.

Entrants should:

  1. Please show evidence of tangible outcomes you have delivered within the first 12–18 months of your role.
  2. Provide examples of where you have proactively engaged beyond your core responsibilities.
  3. Describe any improvements you have made to training or onboarding efficiency.
  4. Include positive feedback or testimonials that highlight your professionalism and reliability.
  5. Demonstrate how you have earned trust and respect through your initiative and consistent support.

This award recognises an individual who has demonstrated exceptional initiative and delivered tangible, positive outcomes for their business. Their proactive approach and commitment to excellence have created enduring benefits, enhancing business efficiency. In a short time, they have built strong internal relationships, fostering trust and respect through their dedication, professionalism, and reliable support.

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Young Administrator of the Year

Entry Form Criteria

All entrants must be aged 35 or under.

Entrants should:

  1. Please provide evidence of how you have improved processes or introduced time-saving initiatives.
  2. Share examples of instances where you have gone above and beyond your core duties.
  3. Describe how you have built strong internal relationships and supported cross-team collaboration.
  4. Provide details of the impact your work has had on business operations or efficiency.
  5. Include feedback or testimonials from colleagues or managers that reflect your dedication and reliability.

This award recognises an individual who has demonstrated outstanding initiative and delivered measurable value to their organisation. They have made impactful contributions with lasting benefits, showcasing a clear commitment to business growth and client success. In a short time, they have developed meaningful client relationships, earning trust and respect through their expertise, dedication, and interpersonal skills.

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Young Financial Planner of the Year (East & West Midlands)

Entry Form Criteria

All entrants must be aged 35 or under.

Entrants should:

  1. Please share examples of client outcomes that demonstrate the value of your financial planning.
  2. Provide evidence of how your work has contributed to business growth or client retention.
  3. Describe how you have built meaningful relationships with clients and colleagues.
  4. Detail any innovations or improvements you have introduced to planning processes or client service.
  5. Include testimonials or feedback that highlight your expertise, professionalism and impact.

This award recognises an individual who has demonstrated outstanding initiative and delivered measurable value to their organisation. They have made impactful contributions with lasting benefits, showcasing a clear commitment to business growth and client success. In a short time, they have developed meaningful client relationships, earning trust and respect through their expertise, dedication, and interpersonal skills.
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Young Financial Planner of the Year (London & Greater London)

Entry form criteria:

All entrants must be aged 35 or under.

Entrants should:

  • Please share examples of client outcomes that demonstrate the value of your financial planning.
  • Provide evidence of how your work has contributed to business growth or client retention.
  • Describe how you have built meaningful relationships with clients and colleagues.
  • Detail any innovations or improvements you have introduced to planning processes or client service.
  • Include testimonials or feedback that highlight your expertise, professionalism and impact.

This award recognises an individual who has demonstrated outstanding initiative and delivered measurable value to their organisation. They have made impactful contributions with lasting benefits, showcasing a clear commitment to business growth and client success. In a short time, they have developed meaningful client relationships, earning trust and respect through their expertise, dedication, and interpersonal skills.
£ 0.00
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Young Financial Planner of the Year (Northeast & West, Scotland & N. Ireland)

Entry form criteria:

All entrants must be aged 35 or under.

Entrants should:

  • Please share examples of client outcomes that demonstrate the value of your financial planning.
  • Provide evidence of how your work has contributed to business growth or client retention.
  • Describe how you have built meaningful relationships with clients and colleagues.
  • Detail any innovations or improvements you have introduced to planning processes or client service.
  • Include testimonials or feedback that highlight your expertise, professionalism and impact.

This award recognises an individual who has demonstrated outstanding initiative and delivered measurable value to their organisation. They have made impactful contributions with lasting benefits, showcasing a clear commitment to business growth and client success. In a short time, they have developed meaningful client relationships, earning trust and respect through their expertise, dedication, and interpersonal skills.
£ 0.00
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Young Financial Planner of the Year (Southeast & West)

Entry form criteria:

All entrants must be aged 35 or under.

Entrants should:

  • Please share examples of client outcomes that demonstrate the value of your financial planning.
  • Provide evidence of how your work has contributed to business growth or client retention.
  • Describe how you have built meaningful relationships with clients and colleagues.
  • Detail any innovations or improvements you have introduced to planning processes or client service.
  • Include testimonials or feedback that highlight your expertise, professionalism and impact.

This award celebrates an outstanding team of young professionals within a financial planning business who, with similar levels of experience, have collaborated effectively to address key business challenges. We are looking for a team that exemplifies unity, problem-solving abilities, and innovation in achieving their goals. Entries should include a clear account of the team’s initial objectives, the strategies they employed, and the successful outcomes, showcasing their positive impact on the organisation and its clients.

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Young Financial Planning Team of the Year

Entry Form Criteria

All entrants must be aged 35 or under.

Entrants should:

  1. Please outline your team’s goals, the challenges you faced and how you addressed them.
  2. Describe how your team collaborated and shared responsibilities to deliver results.
  3. Provide measurable evidence of the team’s impact on the business or its clients.
  4. Share examples of innovative approaches or creative problem-solving used by the team.
  5. Include supporting feedback or testimonials that reflect your team’s effectiveness and contribution.

This award recognises an individual who has introduced innovative strategies to drive client engagement and business growth. Through creative marketing initiatives—including social media and other channels—they have successfully attracted and retained clients, enhancing the organisation’s visibility and reputation. They will demonstrate a strong understanding of how marketing can connect an organisation with new and existing clients, backed by clear examples of successful campaigns and measurable results.

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Young Marketing Specialist of the Year

Entry Form Criteria

All entrants must be aged 35 or under.

Entrants should:

  1. Please provide details of marketing campaigns you have led, including objectives, approach and measurable results.
  2. Share examples of creative or innovative marketing strategies you have developed.
  3. Demonstrate your understanding of the target audience and your use of appropriate channels.
  4. Describe the impact your work has had on business visibility, client engagement or growth.
  5. Include feedback or recognition from colleagues or management that highlights your contribution.

This award recognises a paraplanner who has exhibited exceptional initiative, contributing meaningful value to their team and business. Their work has created lasting, positive impacts, demonstrating dedication to the organisation’s growth and success. They have established strong relationships, building trust and respect through their accuracy, reliability, and commitment to excellence in financial planning support.

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Young Paraplanner of the Year

Entry Form Criteria

All entrants must be aged 35 or under.

Entrants should:

  1. Please provide examples of complex planning work you have delivered and how it added value.
  2. Describe how you have taken initiative to improve technical standards, processes or templates.
  3. Share how you have built strong working relationships with advisers and team members.
  4. Demonstrate how your work has supported planning strategies, compliance or business success.
  5. Include feedback or testimonials that reflect your accuracy, reliability and professional commitment.

Meet our 2025 winners

Katy Gordon
The Private Office
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Monica Lago Serrudo
Brooks-Financial
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Keely Woods
Lucent Financial Planning
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Jake Crossley
Phil Anderson Financial Services
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Jonathan Hickson
Strategic Solutions Chartered Financial Planners
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Aya Saadaoui
St. James's Place
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Rachael Martin
Strategic Solutions Chartered Financial Planners
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Key Dates

JUNE

Entries open on 9 June: Colleagues and individuals can nominate themselves or others within the industry.


JULY

Entries close 11.55pm, Friday 3 July: All submissions will be collated and verified  to proceed to the judging round.


JULY/AUGUST

Judging: A panel of expert judges from across the financial services industry will review all submissions and create a shortlist of the strongest candidates.

The shortlist will be announced in August.


OCTOBER

Awards Presentation: All shortlisted nominees will be announced in October. Good luck!