How to enter the Financial Promoter Awards USA

The Financial Promoter Awards USA 2026 (FinProms USA) have officially landed, bringing a new platform to celebrate the marketers redefining financial services.

From standout campaigns to industry-leading individuals, the awards recognise the work shaping how finance connects with its audiences.

But strong entries don’t happen by accident. The most successful submissions are clear, evidence-led and tightly aligned to what judges are looking for. Here’s how to get it right:

Step-by-step: how to enter1. Choose the right category

Start by selecting the category that best fits your work.

Ask yourself:

• Is this recognising an individual, a team or a campaign?
• Does it align with a sector-specific or discipline-specific category?
• Are you entering as an in-house team or an agency?

Choosing the right category is critical as even strong work can fall short if it’s entered in the wrong place.

2. Understand the criteria

Every category is judged against a defined set of criteria, typically scored from 1–10.

Before writing your entry, review what judges are assessing. Most categories will look for a combination of:

• Strategic alignment to business goals
• Audience understanding
• Creativity and originality
• Channel selection and execution
• Commercial impact and ROI
• Use of data, technology or innovation
• Collaboration and leadership (where relevant)
• Independent validation

Your entry should directly respond to these areas rather than simply describing the work.

3. Structure your entry clearly

A strong entry is easy to follow and logically structured.

A simple, effective flow could be:

• Objectives – What were you trying to achieve?
• Strategy – How did you approach the challenge?
• Execution – What did you actually do?
• Results – What impact did it have?
• Validation – How can you prove it worked?

4. Provide evidence

Judges are scoring the outcomes rather than just the idea. Therefore, where possible, include:

• Performance metrics (engagement, leads, conversion, revenue impact)
• Before-and-after comparisons
• Budget context and efficiency
• Audience insights or segmentation data
• Testimonials or third-party endorsements

Top tip: If you make a claim, back it up.

5. Submit with confidence

Once your entry is complete:

• Check it aligns with the category criteria
• Ensure all key points are supported by evidence
• Keep language clear, concise and jargon-free
• Then submit your entry via the official awards platform.

What makes a good entry?

Across all categories, the strongest submissions share a few defining characteristics.

1. Clear link to business objectives

Winning entries show how marketing activity supports wider organisational goals. Judges want to see evidence that marketing was part of the business strategy so include why the work mattered and how it contributed to commercial success.

2. Strong audience insight

Top entries demonstrate a deep understanding of their target audience. This could include segmentation or persona development, insight-driven messaging, personalisation or tailored campaigns and/or feedback loops showing how the campaign “landed”.

3. Distinctive creativity

Originality matters, which is why judges are looking for fresh thinking and new approaches, creative risk-taking (with purpose), work that stands out in a crowded market. Safe, formulaic campaigns are less likely to make an impact.

4. Smart use of channels

The entry shouldn't just note what you did, it should also detail where and why you did it. High-scoring entries explain why specific channels were chosen, how they align with audience behaviour and how success was measured.

5. Evidence of ROI

Commercial impact is a key differentiator. The strongest entries show tangible business outcomes, clear return on investment and measurable success against objectives. If ROI is difficult to isolate, include proxy metrics such as engagement, brand uplift or pipeline growth.

6. Innovation and use of data

Judges reward entries that demonstrate modern, forward-thinking marketing. This could include use of analytics or data insights, marketing technology or automation and new formats or experimental approaches.

7. Independent validation

External proof is a great way to strengthen your entry. This might include client or stakeholder testimonials, case studies, industry recognition or endorsements.

Common mistakes to avoid

Even strong work can lose marks if the entry falls short in execution. Watch out for:

• Lack of focus – trying to include too much without a clear narrative
• Weak evidence – making claims without data to support them
• Ignoring the criteria – not tailoring the entry to what judges are scoring
• Overly technical language – making it hard to understand the impact
• Missing the “why” – explaining what you did, but not why it mattered

Ready to enter?

The Financial Promoter Awards USA 2026 mark a major moment for the industry and a chance to showcase the very best in financial marketing on a global stage. If you’re driving creativity, delivering results and pushing boundaries, now’s the time to put your work forward.

If you've reviewed your entry against the guide and feel like it's ready, continue to submit here: "Financial Promoter Awards USA" - organised by Rhotic Media on Zealous

Or, if you are still uncertain and would like some help, feel free to reach out to the team:

• niamh.smith@rhoticmedia.com
• megan.mccabe@rhoticmedia.com

We look forward to celebrating in New York!