Chartered Financial Planning Firm of the Year 2026/27
This award is for firms that embed professionalism at every level. You may have built a strong ethical culture, invested significantly in professional qualifications, staff development and future talent, integrated Chartered values across your business, delivered consistently high client outcomes, and contributed positively to the wider profession and local community.
What we’re looking for
Professional and ethical culture – Embedding Chartered values, ethical leadership, and professionalism at every level of the firm.
Investment in people and client outcomes – Demonstrating strong commitment to staff development, professional qualifications, and consistently high client outcomes.
Contribution beyond the firm – Positively contributing to the wider profession and local community through mentoring, pro bono work, or outreach.
Who Can Apply?
Chartered Financial Planning firms
Judging
Firms are assessed in these areas:
- Commitment to the professional qualification and development of staff
- Culture, ethos and ethics
Stage one
A responsible member within your Chartered firm completes the entry form.
Applicant emailed and asked to supply supplementary information – including copy of firm’s latest accounts.
When assessing the submission the judges will be looking for evidence of the following:
- Examples of how your firm promotes Chartered status (communications, use of branding on website etc)
- Evidence of how your firm supports the professional development of its people (e.g. study time, subsidised exam fees, rewards and other incentives)
- Evidence that core values and business practices are in place that align with the high standards of professionalism and the Code of Ethics
- Evidence of your firm’s commitment to delivering excellent consumer outcomes and any measurement of client satisfaction – possibly through client surveys etc (with evidence of any actions taken to enhance client satisfaction where necessary)
- How your firm invests in the future of the profession, either through recruitment initiatives, encouraging pro bono work or developing professional connections etc
Stage 2
Video submission to demonstrate why they deserve the accolade.
Stage 3
Representative from each finalist firm invited to panel interview where judges will question them on a range of subjects to gain a better understanding of their business.
The judges reserve the right to make two awards, to a small and a large firm respectively.
