This Future Forward Event on "Preparation for the 2026 Top Advisor Awards" washeld at 1:00 PM Eastern on Aug 8. You can access the replay on our YouTube Channel I'm letting you know now that the 2026 Top Advisor Awards will launch prior to August 20th (or I'm keeping my fingers crossed, that is). The opening of the Nominations and Applications process allows our four groups of Advisors to get a jump on putting their best foot forward toward recognition among the "Best Advisors on the planet." You will notice that I am using the term 'Advisor' and not 'ProAdvisor' which will become evident in a moment. I also just mentioned 'four groups of Advisors.'
For 2026, Insightful Accountant is administering awards for the Top 100 U.S. ProAdvisors, Top 25 Up-and-Coming ProAdvisors, Top 50 International ProAdvisors, and the 'new' Top 25 Tax Advisors. Because the Tax Advisors we will recognize are not necessarily ProAdvisors, I can't very well go around calling the Awards Program just for ProAdvisors any more. You will hear more about this, and why we are incorporating 'Tax Advisors' into the Awards if you attend today's webinar.
Getting back to the process, 3rd-Parties wishing to nominate an advisor will have until December, 2025 to do so; however, Advisors within any of the groups can continue to submit applications until the Application Deadline early in March of 2026.
Soon after the application period ends, voting will begin by the middle of March 2026 and will end mid-April 2026. While all of these dates are tentative, I feel confident that the official published dates will fit within the time frames I have mentioned thus far.
I also anticipate the announcement of recipients by group beginning in late April with the last of the groups being announced by early or mid-May 2026. The 'major awards' should be presented in the middle of June 2026 at Scaling New Heights in Orlando.
As I said, I'm fairly comfortable with the dates I have just given you; however, Insightful Accountant reserves the right to adjust, increase, decrease, or otherwise alter the approximate dates a listed above.
To get you ready for the 2026 Awards, today's webinar will:
- Discuss the four 'Award Groups' that will be recognized for 2026.
- Identify reasons why there is a new "Top Tax Advisor" award group as of 2026.
- Differentiate between the Award Groups, Award Categories and the Major Awards for 2026
- Examine the three Award Program 'forms' (Nomination form, US Application, International Application)
- Discuss significant 'streamlining' within both the US and International Application forms
- Help you identify your primary Award 'categorical alignment' as a U.S. applicant
- Identify primary criteria for key Award Categories which applicants should focus on when completing their applications
- Learn critical ways to "put your best foot forward" while completing your application form to maximize your categorical rankings.
In other words, I am not only going to get down to the nitty-gritty about the way the Awards Program is structured and works, but tips (not tricks) for making certain you know how to present yourself in the best light when you fill out all those questions in the application forms.
Speaking of which, if you have applied in either 2024 or 2025 you will find that you have the option this year of completing far fewer application questions, since part of our streamling efforts allow you option to use some data from your prior applications, and other areas permit you to only tell us those things that have changed.
If you plan to participate in the 2026 Top Advisor Awards, this is one webinar you won't want to miss even if it is on the last Friday of summer vacation for many school children.
If you are not already registered for the August 2025 Future Forward webinars, you can do so HERE.
I look forward to seeing you later today, Friday, August 8, 1 PM Eastern for my"Preparing for the 2026 Advisor Awards" webinar. (Murph)
