Our awards website should help answer all of your questions, however here are some FAQs we get plus other key information to help you submit and attend the ifa Excellence Awards.
Please contact our team here if you have any additional questions or need help lodging your submission.
ifa created the ifa Excellence Awards program that bestows the industry’s most prestigious accolades recognising excellence across the entire industry for Australian independent financial advice.
You can nominate a colleague or friend through our event website. You will need to complete the online form and provide the email address and phone number of the nominee so that we can let them know of the nomination. This can be done anonymously.
You are welcome to make more than one nomination or to nominate multiple people. Making more than one nomination does not increase the chances of becoming a finalist. Finalist selection is based on the submission made by the nominee.
Create an account, answer the questions and attach any supporting documents such as references, testimonials, statistics, video, media coverage, business metrics or third-party data that support your nomination. Once all sections are complete, confirm and submit. Prompts are available throughout the portal to assist you. If you have any questions, please contact [email protected].
Yes, you are welcome to make your own submission or a submission on somebody else’s behalf. Please ensure that permission is granted before making a submission on somebody else’s behalf.
You can log in any time to amend or add to your submission until the submission period closes. If you have any problems here, please contact [email protected]
The official deadline for close of submissions is 10 August. If you have problems meeting the time indicated, please contact [email protected].
A selection of videos will be compiled and screened at the awards evening. Your video may or may not be played. If you do not want your video to be played at the event, please advise us no later than ADD DATE.
Although there is no official scoring for the videos, judges may consider the effort that has gone into making it if, for instance, they are weighing up scores against other submissions in your category.
Answer the questions. Provide accurate and concise information. Make use of the available word count to draw upon examples to support your claims. Remember that judges often have a lot of submissions to consider, so make it entertaining and informative. Supporting documents are also looked upon favourably as it strengthens your submission, provided that these are relevant to your submission. Judges do not want to spend a lot of time reviewing information that is not relevant to the questions or submission. Don’t be shy – contact your colleagues and clients for testimonials and references.
A judging panel made up of highly respected industry professionals with a broad range of experiences will be chosen to examine the submissions. Judging is allocated to ensure that there will be no conflict of interest in each category. Each judge will be assigned a number of categories and will be asked to score each submission in those categories based on all documentation provided by award entrants. Several judges are assigned per category to ensure a range of expertise and opinions. The aggregate highest score will determine the winner of each award.
Finalists will be announced during the month of August.
An announcement will be sent out via email to all entrants and published on the website, as well as a news story on the ifa website.
Getting the recognition that you deserve by winning an award or becoming a finalist can be a real boost to your business. Our events also provide a great opportunity to network with like-minded companies and individuals. You are provided with a finalist seal and certificate that you can display on your website or in your office. You are also provided with a press release to help you spread the word to your network.
You will be invited on stage to receive a trophy. You will also be provided with a winner’s seal that can be used on your email signature, LinkedIn, resume or website.
Bring whomever you would like! Please feel free to bring colleagues, friends and family to the event.
We will be able to assist you with any dietary requirements as long as you notify us in advance at [email protected] Kosher meals will incur a fee.
The awards are open to all individuals and businesses operating in Australia supporting the independent financial advice industry, and will be a desirable accolade for both individuals and businesses seeking to forge their role in the industry.
When you nominate someone for an award, they will receive an email notifying them of the nomination. You can choose to be anonymous or to let them know of your nomination. The email will contain details about what they have been nominated for and the submission process, encouraging them to enter the awards. Note that a submission still needs to be made in order to be eligible for the award.
No, entering is free and we encourage you to join or nominate people in as many eligible categories as possible.
The awards pinpoint professional development and innovation, showcasing both the individuals and firms that are leading the way in the industry. Take the first step to being recognised as one of Australia’s leaders in independent financial advice!
Please see the category criteria and eligibility on our website.
Supporting documents can include references, testimonials, statistics, video, media coverage and financial or business metrics and/or statements and third-party independent data reports that support your submission. However, there are limits to the size of documents that can be uploaded. If you are having problems uploading a document, please let us know. Supporting documents are looked upon favourably by the judges, so consider their content, relevance and format.
Finalists may have their headshot displayed alongside their name on screen when they are announced at the event. We may also use headshots to announce finalists on our social media campaigns.
This answer will not be scored as part of your submission. Your answer will be displayed on the screen if you are announced as a winner
Although we would love to give everyone feedback on their submission, they are reviewed by multiple judges who are not always able to comment on each entry.
All information is highly confidential and is only shared with the events team and the judges for that category. The information is not published and permissions would have to be sought if required.
This is impossible to answer. Follow the tips above to increase your chances. Some categories have many entries and determining finalists is a very difficult process. We do limit the number of finalists, so if you don’t make it, don’t be put off as you may have only just missed out. Remember that you do have to be “in it to win it”!
You are encouraged to attend if you make it as a finalist. The event gives you an opportunity to be celebrated for (and to celebrate) your outstanding work in the field.
A sumptuous three-course meal, beverages and entertainment from our MC.
While the event allows minors, we are unable to give a discount to children and minors.
