Every wealth management firm has people who keep things moving. They’re not in client meetings. Their names aren’t on the pitch deck. But without them, nothing works. In honor of National Back Office Heroes Day — now in its fifth year — Docupace is proud to announce the 2026 Back Office Heroes Award winners.
This year’s recipients represent the full range of back office excellence: from a client service associate managing 220+ relationships at a boutique firm, to a home office consultant overhauling data workflows at a major carrier, to a COO who built a culture of operational accountability from the ground up. Each one was nominated by peers and evaluated on collaboration, reliability, efficiency, and commitment to the clients they support.
Here’s a look at the four people we’re honoring this year.
2026 Firm Hero: Grant O'Bryan
Client Service Associate
Alchemy Wealth Management
Grant is the operational backbone of his firm. Over the past year, he took full ownership of back office operations while supporting more than 220 client relationships — all while leading trading and financial planning support. The result? Significant firm growth and nearly 99% client retention. Grant’s focus on reducing friction and preventing errors before they happen is the kind of quiet, sustained excellence that makes everything else possible.
2026 Home Office Hero: Julie Dow
Business Solutions Consultant
MassMutual
Julie’s work this year centered on bringing PreciseFP to life within the MassMutual ecosystem. She led a successful pilot program and drove momentum toward a broader firm-wide rollout — all while translating real-world advisor workflows into scalable, repeatable solutions. Her impact shows up in better data accuracy, less administrative burden, and advisors who have more time to spend on their clients.
2026 Workflow Wizard: Shannon Beahan
Partner, COO, Financial Advisor
Lindsey & Lindsey Wealth Management
Shannon didn’t just build workflows in Hubly — she built a culture around them. Her firm now operates with full visibility into tasks, client lifecycle stages, and team accountability. She developed dashboards, implemented performance metrics, and empowered her team to own continuous improvement. Shannon’s story is a reminder that the best operations aren’t just about technology. They’re about leadership.
2026 Employee Hero: Dylan Williams
Business Analyst
Docupace
Every team has someone people go to when things get complicated. At Docupace, that’s Dylan. Over the past year, he built solutions where none existed, supported complex client projects, and made himself a trusted resource for teammates and clients alike. His technical depth, persistence, and willingness to help make him exactly the kind of person this award was created for.
Five Years of Recognizing the People Who Make It Work
When Docupace launched the Back Office Heroes Awards in 2022, the goal was straightforward: put a name and a story to the work that usually goes unnoticed. Five years later, that mission hasn’t changed. National Back Office Heroes Day — now a registered celebratory day — is observed on April 27, and each year we’re reminded that operational excellence isn’t an accident. It’s built by people who show up, figure it out, and make everyone around them better.
Congratulations to Grant, Julie, Shannon, and Dylan. And thank you to everyone across the industry who keeps wealth management running behind the scenes.
Want to learn more about the Back Office Heroes Awards or nominate someone for 2027? Visit docupace.com/back-office-heroes.
