facebook twitter instagram linkedin google youtube vimeo tumblr yelp rss email podcast phone blog search brokercheck brokercheck Play Pause
WHZ Strategic Wealth Advisors, Dunn Marketing Win Two 2026 Communicator Awards for Financial Services Advertising and Consumer Education Thumbnail

WHZ Strategic Wealth Advisors, Dunn Marketing Win Two 2026 Communicator Awards for Financial Services Advertising and Consumer Education

WHZ News

WHZ Strategic Wealth Advisors and its agency of record, Dunn Marketing, have been honored with two 2026 Communicator Awards of Distinction* at the 32nd Annual Communicator Awards: one in the Advertising Campaigns – Financial Services category for WHZ's television ad campaign, "Absolute Confidence. Unwavering Partnership. For Life.," and a second in the Publications – White Paper category for the consumer guide, Smart Strategies to Maximize Generational Wealth. The television campaign was filmed by creative production partner Schloss Films. 

The Communicator Awards remains one of the largest and most competitive programs honoring excellence in marketing, communications, and creative work. The 32nd Annual Communicator Awards received over 3,000 entries from ad agencies, global brands, digital agencies, production studios, in-house creative and communications professionals, graphic designers, design firms, and public relations firms across the United States and around the globe. 

The awards are judged by The Academy of Interactive & Visual Arts (AIVA), an invitation-only body of over 1,100 industry leaders from top brands and agencies, including JPMorgan Chase & Co., FedEx, Netflix, National Geographic Society, Accenture Song, Critical Mass, NAACP, The Andy Warhol Museum, and many more.

“At WHZ, we believe that informed clients are empowered clients. We're proud that both the emotional resonance of our brand campaign and the practical value of our generational wealth guide have been recognized at this level,” said James Zahansky, Senior Managing Partner and Chief Strategist at WHZ. "It really speaks to the breadth and depth of our commitment to providing the best possible financial experience to our clients as well as financial education and empowerment to the larger community. We’re grateful that our partnership with Dunn Marketing has helped us to amplify those efforts even more,” Zahansky said.

The award-winning television campaign, filmed in collaboration with Schloss Films, brings WHZ's brand promise — "Absolute Confidence. Unwavering Partnership. For Life." — to life through authentic client stories and advisor relationships, conveying the deeply personal approach the firm takes to financial planning and wealth management. The campaign continues to anchor WHZ's omnichannel marketing presence across Connecticut and beyond.

The second honor recognizes Smart Strategies to Maximize Generational Wealth, a comprehensive consumer guide developed to help individuals and families navigate the complexities of estate planning, wealth transfer, and inheritance — both as those leaving and those receiving wealth. The guide covers essential steps in building a financial strategy for legacy goals, developing an estate plan, and managing the practical and emotional dimensions of wealth transfer across generations.

"Being recognized twice in the same competition, in two very different categories, is a meaningful validation of the range of work we're doing together with WHZ," said Laura Dunn, CEO and Chief Brand Strategist at Dunn Marketing. "The television campaign and the generational wealth guide represent the two sides of great financial services marketing: connecting emotionally with people who need a trusted partner, and equipping them with the knowledge to make confident decisions. We're incredibly proud of both pieces and grateful to WHZ for the trust they place in us to bring their brand to life," Dunn said.

These honors extend a growing record of marketing communications excellence for the WHZ-Dunn Marketing partnership. The pair previously won a 2025 Communicator Award of Distinction** in the Financial Services Marketing Campaign Effectiveness category and a 2024 Gramercy Institute Financial Content Marketing Award*** in the Personal Investing, Business-to-Consumer category, where they tied with industry giant Vanguard.

WHZ also recently took home several distinctions from Forbes****. James Zahansky, AWMA®, Senior Managing Partner and Chief Strategist; Laurence Hale, AAMS®, CRPS®, Senior Partner and Chief Investment Officer; and Leisl L. Langevin, CFP®, CDFA®, Managing Partner, Advisory, have all been named to the 2026 Forbes SHOOK Best-In-State Wealth Advisors list for Connecticut. Additionally, Langevin is among just 58 women advisors recognized with the Top Women distinction statewide and remains the only advisor from Windham and Tolland counties to receive it. 

This year also saw Hale, Zahansky and Langevin once gain each named as a Five Star Wealth Manager.***** Hale has earned the Five Star Wealth Manager distinction for 12 consecutive years (2014-2025), and Zahansky and Langevin have also earned the distinction in every year that they were eligible (2019-2025 and 2021-2025 respectively).

For more information about WHZ Strategic Wealth Advisors and its financial planning and wealth management services for individuals, families, executives, business owners, and institutions, visit whzwealth.com. For more information about Dunn Marketing and its omni-channel marketing services, visit dunnmarketing.com.


About WHZ Strategic Wealth Advisors
WHZ Strategic Wealth Advisors (WHZ) is an independent investment services practice and partner of Commonwealth Financial Network®, a Registered Investment Adviser. Founded in 2006, WHZ offers more than 65 years of combined experience in the financial industry and provides wealth management services using a strategic process that encourages clients to Plan Well, Invest Well, and Live Well™. The advisors offer portfolio management and financial guidance to individuals, families, business owners and executives, and not-for-profit institutions in 25 states. They practice at 697 Pomfret Street, Pomfret Center, CT 06259 and 392-A Merrow Road, Tolland, CT 06084. They can be reached by phone at 860-928-2341. Securities and advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®, Member FINRA/SIPC, a Registered Investment Adviser. For more information, visit whzwealth.com.

About Dunn Marketing
Dunn Marketing is a strategic brand development and omni-channel marketing agency dedicated to fueling the success of good people doing great work. Founded in 2018, the agency’s six-step Empathy-Driven Brand Building™ process and comprehensive suite of marketing services has fueled success for clients across a variety of life services industries including healthcare, human services, education, finance, law, and the nonprofit sector. To learn more, visit dunnmarketing.com.

About The Communicator Awards
The Communicator Awards recognizes excellence, effectiveness, and innovation across all areas of communication. For 32 years, the platform has provided an equal opportunity for companies, agencies, organizations, and independent creators to be honored, regardless of team size or project budget. The Communicator Awards is sanctioned and reviewed by the Academy of Interactive & Visual Arts (AIVA), an invitation-only body of over 1,100 industry leaders from top brands and agencies. For more information, visit communicatorawards.com.

*2026 Communicator Award of Distinction – Advertising Campaigns: Financial Services, and Communicator Award of Distinction – Publications: White Paper, created by the Communicator Awards and judged by the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts. These awards are not specific to financial services provided and do not imply an endorsement, recommendation, or reflect the performance of the advisor.

**2025 Communicator Award of Distinction – Financial Services Marketing Campaign Effectiveness, created by the Communicator Awards. This award is based on the effectiveness of a marketing campaign, as judged by the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts and not specific to financial services provided and does not imply an endorsement, recommendation, or reflect the performance of the advisor.

***2026 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors, created by SHOOK Research. Awarded April 2026; data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on the time period from 6/30/24–6/30/25 (Source: Forbes.com). The Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors rating algorithm is based on the previous year’s industry experience, interviews, compliance records, assets under management, revenue and other criteria by SHOOK Research, LLC. Investment performance is not a criterion. This rating is not related to the quality of the investment advice and based solely on the disclosed criteria. Not indicative of advisor’s future performance. Your experience may vary.

2026 Forbes Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-In-State, created by SHOOK Research. Published February 4, 2026; based on data as of 6/30/25. Opinions provided by SHOOK® Research, LLC and based on in-person, virtual and telephone due-diligence meetings that measure best practices, client retention, industry experience, credentials, compliance records, firm nominations, assets under management, and firm-generated revenue. Investment performance is not a criterion. Not indicative of advisor’s future performance. Your experience may vary.

****2024 Gramercy Institute Financial Content Marketing – Personal Investing Award, created by Gramercy Institute and presented in September 2024, was based on data gathered in the 18 months preceding the award date. An unknown number of candidates were considered for the award in the Personal Investing Business-to-Consumer category, and two were awarded. Participants pay a fee to apply for consideration. This award is not indicative of an advisor’s future performance, and your experience may vary. For more award information, visit https://www.gramercyinstitute.com/winners-2024-content-mktg-awards. 

*****Five Star Wealth Manager Award is based on a rigorous, multifaceted research process that evaluates candidates using criteria such as industry experience, professional credentials, client retention, and regulatory history. A total of 3,641 Connecticut-area advisors were considered for the 2025 award; 236 advisors (6.5%) were recognized. Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or selected for the award, although a fee is paid for use of marketing materials. The award is not indicative of future performance, and individual client experiences may vary.