For Christine Bermingham, CMP, serving as a judge for the 2026 Invest in Others Awards offered a firsthand look at the many ways financial advisors and professionals across the industry are creating meaningful change in their communities.
With more than 20 years of experience in financial services, Christine currently serves as Director of Strategic Partnerships at Financial Services Institute (FSI), where she develops strategic account plans, builds relationships with key stakeholders and works to advance organizational goals. Her career has also included more than a decade in corporate events at Triad Advisors and Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services, as well as project management experience in the retirement plan industry.
This year, she brought that breadth of experience to the Invest in Others Awards judging process, helping evaluate finalists whose charitable work demonstrates the extraordinary impact financial professionals can have beyond their day-to-day careers.
What stood out most to Christine was the depth and longevity of that commitment.
“I was struck by how many finalists went far beyond traditional board service or fundraising. The strongest nominations demonstrated sustained, hands-on involvement over many years, often using their professional expertise or personal experiences to create lasting impact.”
That breadth of service made the judging process both rewarding and challenging. The finalists represented different causes, communities and approaches to philanthropy, making it difficult to compare their work.
“It made the judging process much more difficult because each finalist was making a meaningful difference in very different ways,” Christine said.
For Christine, the experience reinforced an important lesson about charitable leadership: impact doesn’t always look the same. It can come through years of hands-on service, applying professional skills to solve problems, turning a personal experience into a purpose-driven commitment or building relationships that help a nonprofit thrive.
Those varied approaches are exactly what make the Invest in Others Awards unique. Now in their 20th year, the Awards shine a light on the charitable work of financial advisors and the many ways they invest their time, talent and resources in others.
For Christine, being part of the judging process provided an opportunity not only to recognize that work, but to gain a deeper appreciation for the people behind it.
Based in Atlanta, Christine is a Certified Meeting Professional and holds a B.A. in Public and Political Communication from Georgia State University. Outside of her work in financial services, she enjoys knitting, traveling and all things music.
Her experience as a 2026 judge offered one more perspective on a community of professionals who are using their skills, experiences and passions to make a lasting difference, and a reminder that there are countless ways to invest in others.
