LUMINARIES Class of 2021: Diversity & Inclusion

  We're pleased to present the first Diversity & Inclusion winners of our new, pioneering recognition program: the LUMINARIES. Members of the Class of 2021 are being honored for the dynamic efforts they lead that are driving the financial services industry forward. "Why are we doing what we're doing? Why are we doing it that way? How can we be doing it better? What are we not doing that we need to do? What is — or what might be — coming, and what must we do to prepare?" asked Ric Edelman, founder of Edelman Financial Engines and a LUMINARIES Class of 2021 judge. An evolution of our Broker-Dealers of the Year awards, the LUMINARIES program shines a spotlight on how the top-performing industry participants are producing meaningful results in the areas that matter most to advisors​, such as Diversity & Inclusion. Overall, the industry needs to "consider new perspectives, keep our eye on the potential that the future holds and inspire important conversations on what we, as an industry, need to do to innovate and steer our companies and our marketplace toward a better future for those we serve," said Charles Schwab Chief Digital Officer Neesha Hathi, who also served as a LUMINARIES judge. Plus, while the financial services industry is embracing the push for diversity and inclusion as never before, lots of work remains to be done for the sector to more adequately represent the people and community it serves. "Together we can change how we hire and cultivate diverse talent — especially if we want to attract and, more importantly, retain this talent in financial services," according to Renée Baker, head of Private Client Group Advisor Inclusion Networks for Raymond James and a LUMINARIES judge. Members of the Class of 2021 LUMINARIES were selected by a distinguished and diverse panel of judges from across the advice industry, as well by our editorial team. Their stories will be told in print and online via features, interviews, podcasts and other coverage, and on stage at the program's inaugural awards dinner — set to take place Nov. 9 at the Mandarin Oriental in New York. In addition to financial advisors, the following organizations are being recognized by the program:

• Asset/portfolio management firms
• Broker-dealers
• Clearing/custodial firms
• Consulting firms
• Corporate RIAs
• Fintech firms
• Partnerships
• Retirement product companies
• Retirement planning firms
• RIA firms/IAR teams
• TAMP platforms & providers

We're grateful for the 2021 participants in this empowering new recognition program, which promises to shape industry conversations this year and beyond. (Jeff Berman, Michael S. Fischer, Emily Holbrook, Janet Levaux, Bernice Napach, Ginger Szala and Melanie Waddell contributed to this slideshow.)