Rising Stars: Every year, as Fund Action and Fund Directions scout the market for nominees for its mutual fund awards, it looks for up-and-comers who are making strides in the industry, based on the following criteria:

• Leadership in their profession, firm and/or industry
• Outstanding contributions to innovations, product development, client service, sales and/or growth in assets or returns
• Recognition by the firm and/or industry groups
• Active contribution to the broader mutual fund community
• Spending fewer than 15 years working in the mutual fund industry
• Other quantifiable contributions to profession, firm, clients and/or industry

Deal Of The Year is awarded to the M&A deal of 2014 that has most changed the landscape of the fund or retirement industry.

The Fund Leader Of The Year is awarded to an individual who has made a key impact on their firm or the industry as a whole, through either an innovative concept, directive or product that changed the industry or helped their firm grow.

The Fund Marketer Of The Year Award goes to individuals who have led innovative campaigns and/or strategies at their firms that have contributed to measurable improvements in areas such as inflows, investor participation and market share.

The Independent Counsel of the Year Award category recognizes lawyers who have delivered outstanding representation of independent directors. Accomplishments could include but are not limited to industry leadership, innovation, fund restructurings, mergers, acquisitions and divestitures.

Ad Campaign Of The Year is awarded to the most innovative and attention-grabbing advertising effort by an industry player.

Retirement Leader Of The Year is awarded to a firm that has made a key impact on growing retirement assets with unique retirement solutions, marketing campaigns and significant contributions to the retirement industry at large.

Sales Success Of the Year is awarded to an individual fund or line of funds that, whether through performance, sales strategy or a combination of both, has registered a dramatic increase or high level of flows.

The Small Board Trustee of the Year This award recognizes directors who serve on boards that oversee less than $20 billion in assets for outstanding accomplishments working with their own board or with the mutual fund industry in general. Accomplishments could include but are not limited to industry leadership, individual fund leadership and innovation.

The Trustee of the Year is awarded to directors who serve on boards that oversee more than $20 billion in assets for outstanding accomplishments working with their own board or with the mutual fund industry in general. Accomplishments could include but are not limited to industry leadership, individual fund leadership and innovation.

Newcomer Director of the Year recognizes outstanding accomplishment and potential among recently appointed independent directors. The winner of this award has shown strong leadership and initiative during and up to their first 5 years in the boardroom, the willingness to take on responsibility and go the extra mile to represent shareholders to the best of their ability.

Fund Innovation Of The Year: This award recognizes a particularly notable achievement that is a departure from the industry norm in areas that could include product development, investment strategy, distribution, marketing campaigns and educational initiatives.

Social Media Leader Of The Year: This award recognizes a firm that has shown itself to be a leader in social media via observations, insights and engagement with clients and the general public.

Alternative Product Of The Year: This award recognizes an alternative product that has stood out above the rest in terms of a combination of performance and/or flows.