Contribution to Gender Diversity - Advisory

Winner: Personal Finance Movement

Judges' comments: "Strong leadership under a female founder and strong track record of elevating female voices in the industry, including multiple candidates from the firm shortlisted in categories for these awards."

"For a smaller firm, they show real commitment to DEI and the support of individuals."

Highly Commended: Schroders Personal Wealth

Contribution to Gender Diversity - Financial Services

Winner: Scottish Widows

Judges' comments: "This submission has strong measurable outcomes and initiatives displaying a commitment to gender diversity. The credibility of this is increased by the long-standing initiatives the firm has had in place such as the Women in Retirement report developed since 2005. There is evidence that this firm is industry-leading in its efforts to increase gender diversity."

Financial Adviser of the Year - London

Winner: Abigail Banks, The Private Office

Judges' comments: "Demonstrates strong leadership and mentorship, being the youngest female partner at TPO. Her commitment to empowering women and supporting clients through vulnerable times is commendable."

Highly commended: Lisa Meller, Personal Finance Movement

Financial Adviser of the Year - Midlands & East Anglia

Winner: Lena Patel, ISJ Independent Financial Planning

Judges' comments: "Exceptional personal journey, community engagement, and visibility. Impact through media, education, and mentoring is outstanding. A true sector role model."

Financial Adviser of the Year – North East

Winner: Lottie Kent, True Financial Design

Judges' comments: "Excellent entry with specific examples backed by data and focusing on a vulnerable segment of the female market which needs support."

Highly Commended: Amy Gray, Amy Gray Wealth Management

Financial Adviser of the Year - North West

Winner: Laura Duncan, Continuum Financial Services

Judges' comments: "A powerful story of resilience combined with exceptional results. Exceeded business targets by 220%, top adviser for three consecutive years, and received 90 testimonials in one month. Clear evidence of empowering women clients, particularly in the medical profession, and raising awareness of financial services careers."

Highly commended: Carla Brown, Oakmere Wealth Management

Highly commended: Shalini Kanap, Her Financial Planning

Financial Adviser of the Year – Scotland and NI

Winner: Catriona Smith, Chase de Vere IFA

Judges' comments: "Catriona's references are glowing and she has inspired colleagues to take qualifications in a much-needed area. She was the highest fee-earning Chase de Vere adviser (male or female) in Scotland in 2024, writing fee income of £1m for the first time."

Financial Adviser of the Year – South East

Winner: Jodie Phelps, de Mellow and Co

Judges' comments: "Drawing on her own experience and creating learning events/networking for others in a wider variety of venues/places. She is partnering with networks and driving her own network to reach a lot of people."

"Jodie has demonstrated a clear passion for the sector and her desire to support women through difficult life transitions."

Financial Adviser of the Year - South West

Winner: Kimberley Sare, Guided Financial

Judges' comments: "A standout candidate who combines emotional intelligence with entrepreneurial courage. She built two businesses, mentors women into the profession, delivers community workshops, and has embedded female-centric values into her advice model. Her work with divorcing and bereaved women shows real impact. A truly inspiring role model transforming financial planning into a more human, inclusive space."

Highly commended: Michelle Willcock, Francis Clark Financial Planning

Financial Adviser of the Year - Wales

Winner: Gretchen Betts, Magenta Financial Planning

Judges' comments: "Everything about Gretchen and Magenta is impressive. Gretchen's work shows a real devotion to upskilling and supporting women in the industry. A fantastic role model - high profile adviser, business owner and reaching out to a wider audience with the podcast and workbook." 

Marketing Influencer of the Year

Winner: Holly Mackay, Boring Money

Judges' comments: "Holly is really making a difference in engaging women with their finances - she's the trusted face of finfluencers.

"Holly's entry is one of the clearest fits for this category: her marketing and media work has directly raised awareness of financial issues for a wide consumer audience, with measurable impact and mainstream reach. She has also addressed gender inclusion by championing women investors through high-profile campaigns and accessible storytelling. While her influence is less about industry culture and more about consumer perception, her scale, visibility, and data-backed engagement set her apart."

Most Inspiring Returner

Winner: Emma Clement, The Private Office

Judges' comments: "Emma has received incredible feedback for the way she has transformed change and helped shape a new culture within her firm. She has also been an active mentor to colleagues, clearly acting as a positive influence on those around her. A testament to her impact is the fact her firm chose to wait six months for her return rather than recruit externally, which speaks volumes about her value."

Outstanding Support Initiative

Winner: The Verve Foundation, Verve

Judges' comments: "Creating a complete career ecosystem that develops diverse talent and builds innovative firms is comprehensive and significantly benefits female employees."

Highly commended: Wellbeing in the Workplace, Bespoke - Advice

Rising Star (Advice)

Winner: Romany Youell, needingadvice.co.uk

Judges' comments: "Amazing achievements in a short time, Romany is a fantastic role model for young advisers."

Highly commended: Maria Langford Beyond Finance

Rising Star (Non-Advice)         

Winner: Olivia Jackson, IronMarket Wealth

Judges' comments: "Olivia's rapid impact in marketing and brand strategy, alongside diversity advocacy, shows strong potential and organisational impact. A worthy candidate. Supporting evidence shows good progress by leaders' statements."

Highly commended: Abi Robinson, The Yardstick Agency

Role Model of the Year (large firms)

Winner: Jay Dhaliwal, Chase de Vere

Judges' comments: "Jay has learnt through some hard life experiences the importance of financial planning which led her to become an adviser, she achieved Chartered status in 2022. A very strong candidate for doing so much so young."

Role Model of the Year (medium firms)

Winner: Nicki Hinton-Jones, Timeline

Judges' comments: "Combines commercial excellence with cultural leadership and a clear push for authentic female leadership in fintech/asset management."

Role Model of the Year (small firms, fewer than 50 employees)

Winner: Carla Brown, Oakmere Wealth Management

Judges' comments: "Carla's work with the PFS and holding the presidential and chair positions are fabulous examples of the leading roles which women can (and do) play in the financial advice industry. This is of great credit to her."

Highly commended: Sarah Elson, Berry & Oak

Team Leader of the Year (large firms)

Winner: Claire Bocking, Schroders Personal Wealth

Judges' comments: "Resilient and inspiring journey from modest beginnings to regional leadership. Clear commitment to inclusion, female leadership and cultural change. Strong impact with SPWomen initiatives and client engagement. Professional achievements enhance credibility. Very strong."

Team Leader of the Year (small/medium firms)

Winner: Nicola Clark, Wealthtime

Judges' comments: "A highly experienced professional who is proficient at managing improvement initiatives and has improved performance metrics at Wealthtime. A standout submission for me."

Woman of the Year – Adviser Support Services (large firms)

Winner: Emma Vaughan, SimplyBiz Services

Judges' comments: "It is clear that Emma is a driven leader in SimplyBiz and her initiatives have driven growth. She is setting new standards and achieving great commercials too."

Highly commended: Esther Hobden, LV=

Woman of the Year – Adviser Support Services (small/medium firms)

Winner: Hayley Rabbets, for her work at Verve

Judges' comments: "Hayley is an absolute powerhouse, committed to driving change across financial advice by encouraging talented women and men from diverse backgrounds into the profession."

Highly commended: Victoria Hicks, Melo

Woman of the Year – Fintech

Winner: Andrea MacDonald, Avenir

Judges' comments: "Andrea has demonstrated exceptional entrepreneurial drive, co-founding Avenir and leading its strategic pivot into an AI-driven platform delivering real impact for financial advisers and firms. She combines sharp commercial results with a clear commitment to breaking down barriers for women in finance and tech. An outstanding candidate who is helping to redefine what leadership in fintech looks like."

Highly commended: Roxanne Corrieri, intelliflo

Woman of the Year – Investment

Winner: Holly Mackay, Boring Money

Judges' comments: "A real advocate for change, highlighting important issues such as gender pay gap and raising the profile of UK financial services."

"Holly is a champion of 'helping people invest with confidence'. She spreads the message far and wide, highlighting the gender investment gap, with a real focus on hitting her target audience."

Woman of the Year – Investment Advice

Winner: Andere Casanova, Cameron James

Judges' comments: "Driven and determined to excel in a highly competitive, male-dominated industry, while serving her clients with humility, empathy, and a strong sense of duty and care, while leveraging her technical skills as CFA."

Highly commended: Amy Gray, Amy Gray Wealth Management 

Woman of the Year – Paraplanning

Winner: Raveen Uppal, Rathbones

Judges' comments: "Raveen's entry is strong with a real connection to the brief. She has overcome some serious obstacles in order to achieve the outcome she is looking for and through these she finds the time to support the business, paraplanners and advisers and finds operational improvement. In addition to this she finds time to create sessions that elevate the role of paraplanner to young women as a career they should consider.  A great entry with clear measures of success."

Highly commended: Rajveet Kaur Kang, Chase de Vere

Woman of the Year – Platforms

Winner: Lorna Whalley, Aviva

Judges' comments: "Lorna has a considerable amount of high impact both internally and externally - with notable achievements and initiatives that aim to highlight systemic gaps in the issues regarding female investors."

Highly commended: Laura Barnes, Nucleus

Woman of the Year – Protection Advice

Winner: Liz Rolland, St James's Place - Dean Stevens Wealth Management

Judges' comments: "Powerful personal story of surviving a life-threatening brain tumour and using that experience to champion protection advice. Created training content, spoken at conferences, and mentored others. Strong advocacy across SJP and beyond, combining technical skills with lived experience to humanise protection."

Woman of the Year – Retirement

Winner: Alexandra Miles, L&G Asset Management

Judges' comments: "Very strong, ambitious, and inclusive. Shows leadership, sector impact, and advocacy for women. Extensive contribution to national debates on pension equity and adequacy. A worthy winner."

Highly commended: Susan Hope, Scottish Widows

Woman of the Year – Retirement Planning

Winner: Tracy Brookes, 75point3

Judges' comments: "Dedicated to delivering high-quality, client-focused retirement advice, while driving innovation, mentoring others, and championing inclusion—helping shape a more sustainable, forward-thinking future for both clients and the financial planning profession."

Woman of the Year – Vulnerable Client Care

Winner: Jennifer Stone, Chase de Vere

Judges' comments: "This candidate's impact is vast - it is great to see her industry-wide impact contributing to regulatory issues and cases. She also has a long list of incredible achievements, further emphasising her impact, such as securing fee income of £750,000 in 2024 while reallocating clients to mentees, supporting their growth and generating long-term team success and is one of the UK's most experienced personal injury IFAs, instructed as an expert witness in over 800 cases."

Highly commended: Catriona Smith, Chase de Vere IFA

Woman of the Year: In-house Adviser Support

Winner: Rio Stedford, Finura

Judges' comments: "A standout submission for me across female empowerment, results and championing advice. A broad range of excellent examples covering both within the business and within broader financial services."

Highly commended: Aisha Williams, LGT Wealth Management

Outstanding Contribution to the Profession

Winner: Rhiannon Gogh, Planit Future Financial

Judges' comments: "Exceptional systemic and generational impact on families with disabled children, blending personal experience with national training, publishing, and founding an industry alliance. This entry stands out for transformational influence on an underserved community and the profession itself."

"She has created lasting, systemic change in a neglected area of financial planning, supporting families with disabled children through national training, seminars, a best-selling book, and founding SENDA. A unique, sector-shaping contribution that is clearly 10/10."

Highly commended: Jennifer Stone, Chase de Vere

Highly commended: Jenni Turco, Positive Wealth Creation