Every year, the Plutus Awards Panel reviews the categories and suggests changes that reflect the trends in the diverse community of financial writers, podcasters, video producers, authors, speakers, and influencers. The intent is for the categories to reflect the changing nature of the community. As a result, there are changes in the categories from time to time.

The Plutus Awards Panel discusses and votes on the final list of categories submitted to the Panel management and the Plutus Awards executive team. The executive team publishes the list of categories prior to opening submissions each year.

There are two paths for blogs, podcasts, other projects, and people to be considered for selection in the Plutus Awards. Project creators (bloggers, podcasters, video producers, etc.) may submit their project for consideration. Alternatively, the general public, including audience members, fans, and other content creators, may nominate their favorite project or deserving people for consideration.

For most categories, the Panel reviews and discusses submissions and nominations and selects the finalists and winners throough a secure and private voting process. The voting is tabulated by the Panel management.

The Plutus Awards Panel follows a set of guidelines that help to evaluate projects. Some aspects considered include quality, frequency, relevance, and timeliness of content.

Plutus Foundation Service Award. In the event that this award is given, the Plutus Foundation team selects the winner.

People’s Choice Award. The public votes for this award, and the project with the most unique votes will receive the award.

Some categories are limited. As of 2020, projects may win any “Of the Year” category or People’s Choice only once. The Plutus Awards Panel makes an effort to reflect diversity across the slate of all finalists in any given year.

The Plutus Awards Panel is a diverse representation of the community of financial content creators and infuencers.

Every year, the Plutus Awards opens applications for members of the community (financial writers, podcasters, video producers, influencers, etc.) to serve on the Plutus Awards Panel. The Plutus Awards Panel management, in combination with the Plutus Award executive team, selects fifty to seventy applicants to serve on the Plutus Awards Panel.

Some of the criteria considered for participation in the panel include experience in independent financial media, involvement in community projects, and enthusiasm for the Plutus Awards, while keeping diverity and inclusion in mind.

Panelists who contriute in a material fashion to a project that is being considered as a finalist are restricted from voting in that project’s category.

Trophies are available for sponsorship. Learn more about becoming a partner here.

Trophy sponsors are ineligible to qualify as a finalist in that trophy’s category.