Nominations for the 2012 Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) Adviser of the Year Award have opened.

CEO Richard Klipin says judges are looking for an adviser showing outstanding professionalism.

“We are seeing a profession in transition and each year the competition gets tougher,” he said. “This is a great outcome for the profession, the industry and the clients who get looked after year after year.”

Zurich is again sponsoring the award, which it has done since the award began 10 years ago.

Judges include AFA President Brad Fox, Encore Group CEO Graham Peatey and Zurich National Manager Sales and Strategies Marc Fabris.

Nominations will close on July 31 and the winner will be announced at the AFA Conference on the Gold Coast on October 30.