Every year, the Invest in Others Awards shine a light on financial advisors who are using their time, talents and resources to make a difference in the lives of others. But behind every finalist and every honoree is a group of people entrusted with an important responsibility: identifying the stories and impact that deserve to be recognized.
Our Awards judges bring diverse perspectives, deep expertise and a genuine appreciation for the power of giving back. Their role is about more than evaluating nominations. They help us understand what makes an advisor’s charitable work meaningful, sustainable and inspirational, and ultimately help elevate those stories for the entire financial services community.
We’re grateful to the professionals who lend their time and perspective to this process, including 2026 judges Marianne Rivera and Julius Buchanan.
Marianne Rivera: Seeing the Personal Impact of Giving Back
Marianne Rivera is a marketing consultant specializing in the wealth management space. Known for developing integrated marketing campaigns that deliver results, she combines strategic marketing expertise with strong sales instincts to build visibility, deepen customer engagement and generate leads. Her experience leading cross-functional initiatives and improving profitability gives her a particularly valuable perspective on how ideas can translate into meaningful results.
That same results-oriented mindset informs how she views charitable involvement.
When asked what advice she would share with a financial advisor considering charitable work or volunteering, Marianne emphasized that advisors have a unique opportunity to make an impact that extends well beyond their professional responsibilities.
“Advisors play a pivotal role in people’s lives,” she says, noting that their work involves helping people navigate some of the most important moments and decisions in their lives.
For Marianne, charitable work offers advisors another way to put that perspective and connection into action. Volunteering can introduce them to people and experiences they might never otherwise encounter, while providing an opportunity to gain a broader perspective on their own lives.
And perhaps most importantly, she sees the impact as deeply personal.
“The impact is immediate and deeply personal,” Marianne says. “What greater gift is there than seeing the difference you make in someone’s life?”
It’s a fitting perspective for a judge evaluating advisors whose charitable commitments often represent some of the most meaningful parts of their lives and careers.
Julius Buchanan: Finding the Stories That Can Inspire
Julius Buchanan brings a different, but equally valuable, perspective to the judging process. As Editor in Chief of Wealth Solutions Report, he leads the publication’s editorial team, overseeing strategy, content planning, writing and editing.
His career spans financial journalism, law, financial services and public policy. Before entering journalism, Julius practiced law at global firms including Latham & Watkins LLP and Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP. He also served as a Director at Citi Private Bank and worked as a policymaker for the financial advisor industry and related sectors at the Monetary Authority of Singapore.
That breadth of experience gives him a unique lens through which to evaluate the stories of advisors making a difference in their communities.
And this year, he says the nominations made the task particularly meaningful.
“As always, the nominations this year were stellar, with every person going above and beyond in making a difference in their communities,” Julius says. “Each of them is an inspiration.”
What stood out to him was not simply the amount of time or resources finalists have contributed, but the depth of commitment behind their work. He points to their “dedication, resources, ingenuity and invested time” and, importantly, the personal stories that have shaped their charitable journeys.
For some finalists, Julius notes, a desire to help others emerged from deeply difficult personal experiences.
“For many of them, a determination to help others arose from deep wounds,” he says. “The kind of courage they display can only inspire us.”
That observation gets to the heart of why the Awards, and the judging process behind them, matter. These are not simply stories about charitable donations or volunteer hours. They are stories about people who have chosen to respond to their own experiences, passions and convictions by helping others.
Recognizing the People Who Are Changing Their Communities
The value of the Invest in Others Awards is rooted in the advisors being recognized. But the process of recognizing them matters, too.
Our judges help ensure that the Awards reflect the breadth and depth of charitable work happening throughout the financial services community. Their outside perspectives help us look beyond the numbers to consider the ingenuity, commitment, personal connection and lasting impact behind each nomination.
Just as importantly, they help us identify stories that can travel beyond the Awards themselves.
When an advisor sees a fellow professional using their platform to address a challenge in their community, overcoming personal adversity to help others, or simply committing their time and talents to a cause they care deeply about, it can spark something: an idea, a connection or the belief that they, too, can make a difference. That is the power of recognition.
And it’s why we’re so grateful to Marianne, Julius and all of our 2026 Awards judges for helping us celebrate the financial advisors who are proving that their impact can extend far beyond their practices, and into the communities and lives they serve.
