NEW YORK, NY – October 17, 2024 – The Money Management Institute (MMI) has announced the winners of the 2024 MMI/Barron’s Industry Awards, honoring the most innovative and influential firms across the investment advisory solutions industry. The awards, now in their 16th year, recognize companies that demonstrate leadership in advancing advisory solutions for investors and financial advisors.

Craig Pfeiffer, MMI President and CEO, said, "The MMI/Barron’s Industry Awards are a celebration of the industry’s ability to drive change, and this year’s winners exemplify the innovation, leadership, and commitment required to meet the evolving needs of our members. Every winner recognized elevates our industry and sets the highest examples of excellence. We’re proud to recognize these firms for their achievements.”

Jack Otter, Global Head of Wealth & Asset Management at Dow Jones, the publisher of Barron’s, added, “We are excited by our continued partnership with MMI, and honored to partner in recognizing this year’s winners, who are pushing the boundaries of what's possible in the wealth management and advisory solutions industry. Congratulations to all.”

The winners in the 13 award categories this year are:

Disruption (Open Award Categories): Honoring a groundbreaking new product, service, or process that will fundamentally alter the future delivery of advisory solutions.

• Franklin Templeton – Franklin Templeton Digital Assets – Franklin Templeton Digital Assets is a comprehensive ecosystem designed to support the evolving landscape of digital investments. This initiative by Franklin Templeton aims to integrate digital assets into traditional investment strategies, offering a range of services and products tailored for individual investors, financial professionals, and blockchain start-ups.
   

Distribution Excellence (Open Award Categories): Recognizing firms that provide exemplary and innovative advisor sales support both in the field and from the home office.

• Morgan Stanley – Pressing Our Advantage: Field Engagement Initiative – Morgan Stanley’s Field Engagement Initiative is designed to enhance the firm’s connection with its clients and communities through strategic, impactful engagement. This initiative focuses on leveraging the collective talents and resources of Morgan Stanley’s employees to drive meaningful change and support the firm’s philanthropic goals.
   

Doing Good (Open Award Categories): Honoring firm-wide initiatives that actively contribute to the betterment of our communities and address specific needs within them.

• Osaic – Launch of the Osaic Foundation –  Osaic Foundation is a charitable organization established by Osaic, Inc., one of the nation’s largest providers of wealth management services. Launched in 2023, the foundation aims to amplify the impact of Osaic’s financial professionals and employees through focused philanthropic efforts that empower lives with a strong emphasis on financial literacy.
   

Thought Leadership/Education (Open Award Categories): Acknowledging new programs, research, educational campaigns, or content that advance industry knowledge and understanding of topics crucial to the future of advisory solutions.

• iCapital (joint winner) – Beyond 60/40 – iCapital’s Beyond 60/40 is an initiative designed to help investors navigate the evolving landscape of alternative investments. The traditional 60/40 portfolio model, which allocates 60% to equities and 40% to bonds, is being re-evaluated in light of changing market conditions and the growing importance of alternative assets. iCapital provides comprehensive resources, including newsletters and reports, to educate investors about the benefits and risks associated with alternative investments.
• Blue Owl Capital (joint winner) – Private Wealth Site, Private Markets Education Toolkit, and Private Markets Leadership Series – Blue Owl Capital’s resources are designed to provide individual investors and financial advisors with access to private market investment opportunities. It aims to offer the same quality investments as institutional investors, focusing on diversification, downside protection, and consistent income.
   

Values-Based Investing (Open Award Categories): Honoring programs that support awareness and adoption of Values-Based Investing.

• Raymond James – Real Stories: Aligning Wealth and Values – Raymond James’s Real Stories prepares advisors to navigate the intersection of finance and personal beliefs, strengthening client relationships and outcomes.
   

Digital Innovation (Wealth Manager Categories): Recognizing a new technological innovation by a wealth management firm that enhances the investor or advisor experience with advisory solutions.

• Bank of America Merrill Lynch - Merrill Digital Presence: A Robust Ecosystem for Client Acquisition – Merrill’s Advisor Match continues to connect people seeking financial advice with an advisor of best fit based on a simple, straightforward questionnaire. It is now even more powerful with increased adoption and business generation.
   

Wealth Manager Platform of the Year: Honoring a wealth manager platform that exemplifies innovation in delivering better outcomes for investors and financial advisors.

• Morgan Stanley Wealth Management – The Morgan Stanley Wealth Management (MSWM) Select UMA Platform – A unified managed account (UMA) program designed to simplify the investment process and provide comprehensive asset management, the platform offers tailored asset allocation advice aligned with client goals and risk tolerance. Customers can choose from a wide range of investment products, including mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and separately managed accounts (SMAs).
   

Asset Manager of the Year (Retail Advisory AUM less than $25 billion): Celebrating a smaller asset manager that exemplifies innovation in delivering better outcomes for investors and financial advisors.

• StepStone Private Wealth – StepStone Private Infrastructure Fund (STRUCTURE) – STRUCTURE seeks to provide current income and long-term capital appreciation by offering investors access to a global investment portfolio investing in a range of private infrastructure investments that vary across industry sectors.
   

Asset Manager of the Year (Retail Advisory AUM $25 billion-$100 billion): Recognizing a mid-size asset manager that exemplifies innovation in delivering better outcomes for investors and financial advisors.

• Clark Capital Management Group – ‘Employee-Owned, Independent Asset Manager Defies Industry Trends’ – Clark Capital Management Group is providing ownership to all employees and strengthening their commitment to being a family- and employee-owned independent asset manager.
   

Asset Manager of the Year (Retail Advisory AUM more than $100 billion): Acknowledging a larger asset manager that exemplifies innovation in delivering better outcomes for investors and financial advisors.

• Blackstone – Blackstone Private Wealth Solutions – Blackstone Private Wealth Solutions is a division of Blackstone dedicated to providing private market investment opportunities to individual investors and smaller institutions. The platform offers access to a wide range of private market investments, including private equity, real estate, infrastructure, and private credit.
   

Digital Innovation (Asset Manager categories): Celebrating a new technological innovation by an asset management firm that enhances the investor or advisor experience with advisory solutions.

• Cohen & Steers – Cohen & Steers Real Assets Compass – The Cohen & Steers Real Assets Compass is an interactive tool designed to help financial advisors and institutional investors enhance their portfolio’s risk-return profile by incorporating real estate investments.
   

Digital Innovation – Technology/Solutions Provider: Recognizing a new technological innovation by a technology/solutions provider firm that enhances the investor or advisor experience with advisory solutions.

• Adhesion Wealth Advisor Solutions – Adhesion Model Marketplace – A platform designed to provide financial advisors with access to a wide range of investment models and strategies. The marketplace offers over 4,000 models from nearly 500 institutional asset managers.
   

Technology/Solutions Provider of the Year: Honoring a solutions provider firm that exemplifies innovation in delivering better outcomes for investors and financial advisors.

• SMArtX Advisory Solutions – SMArtY – A manager-sponsored, no-fee strategist platform from SMArtX Advisory Solutions. Unlike traditional turnkey asset management platforms (TAMPs), SMArtY does not charge a platform fee.
   

The winners were chosen from an exceptional group of finalists representing the most dynamic and forward-thinking organizations in the wealth and asset management industry. These firms exemplify the highest standards of excellence and innovation.

About the MMI/Barron’s Industry Awards Program: The winners were selected by a specially appointed MMI Industry Awards Steering Council. The Steering Council consists of representatives from all segments of the MMI membership. After carefully reviewing the nominations submitted, the Steering Council determined a slate of finalists in each award category. The primary contacts at each of MMI’s member firms were eligible to vote to determine the winners.

About the Money Management Institute (MMI): Established in 1997, the Money Management Institute (MMI) is the industry association representing financial services firms that provide financial advice and investment advisory solutions to investors. Through conferences, educational resources, and thought leadership, MMI facilitates peer-to-peer connections, fosters industry knowledge and professionalism, and supports the development of the next generation of industry leadership. MMI member firms are dedicated to helping individual and institutional investors, at every level of assets, plan for and fulfill their financial goals. For more information, visit www.MMInst.org.

About Barron’s: Barron’s is America’s premier financial publication, known for its market-moving stories. Published by Dow Jones since 1921, it reaches an influential audience of professional fund managers, financial advisors, affluent individual investors, financial-services professionals, and senior corporate executives. With new content available every day online and every week in print, Barron’s provides readers with an intelligible recap of recent market action coupled with insights on what’s likely to happen in the market in the days and weeks to come. In addition, the Wealth & Asset Management Group’s annual series of exclusive conferences for financial advisors and investors is dedicated to identifying, enhancing, and expanding best practices in wealth management. As a result of these initiatives, Barron’s is the trusted financial-publishing brand that people active in the market turn to for information, ideas, and insights they can use to increase their professional success and enhance their personal, financial well-being.

Media Contact:
Kelly Caporale
Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer
Money Management Institute
646.868.8514
kcaporale@mminst.org