We present our annual Outstanding Advisor Awards each May, but we're always on the lookout for charitably inclined financial advisors. Ten veteran financial advisors who exemplify the highest standards of professionalism and are active in charitable activities will be chosen. If you know such an advisor, please contact us. Entrants are judged on productivity (registered reps must be among the top 25 percent of their firms in terms of gross production to be considered; RIAs must have a minimum of around $100 million in assets), but more importantly, winners should also possess other qualities. We're looking for FAs who are civic-minded (extensively involved in community or charitable work, for example), as well as FAs who are known to be mentors to others at their firms or in their advisory practices. (And managing your daughter's softball team doesn't count!)
There are a couple of other hard-and-fast rules: We look for a minimum of three years in the industry as a producing registered rep or investment adviser rep, a minimum of one year working with the FA's present firm and a clean compliance record. (Please send full names and CRD number. We check all nominees' U4s and Form ADVs.) We also request three references with phone numbers and email addresses attached. Please note that a nominee cannot be a previous OAA winner.
The nomination also requires a short essay telling us why this person should be named as an Outstanding Advisor. Describe what makes this person worthy and be brief-a couple hundred words will suffice. Specifics are important; we have to disregard submissions that don't provide vignettes or anecdotes regarding the advisor's strongest qualities and philanthropic activities. A simple list of numbers (CRD and assets) is important, but they don't tell us nearly enough. Your words need not be fancy, what matters most is that we get a sense of what makes the advisor's tick. Describe the type of advisory practice in detail so that we have a clear understanding of the advisor's book. All applications are confidential and you can nominate yourself.
In May, Rep. and a sponsor will be holding a gala award ceremony at the Nasdaq MarketSite in Times Square. Attendees will be flown to New York and lodged for a night at Registered Rep. 's expense. To enter a friend, colleague or boss, go to www.registeredrep.com/oaa. Each winner will be profiled in the May issue.
We thank you for your support. Drop us a line with your comments: 249 W. 17th St., New York, N.Y. 10011-5300. Or email us: [email protected]. Publisher Rich Santos can be reached at [email protected].