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Behind the Scenes of the 2021 Broker Awards
I’ve often wondered how medals are actually made. When attending a sporting event, most of us focus on cheering for our favorite athletes so they can step onto the podium and receive their gold, silver, or bronze medals. In those moments, the awards themselves can feel like a small symbolic part of the ceremony—the real highlights are the athletic performances.
Still, it can be interesting to think about the elements behind the scenes. For example, how does the Olympic flame remain lit around the clock in extreme weather conditions? Or how much planning and cost goes into the fireworks display? Inspired by this curiosity—and because we now have a dedicated space for blog-style content—we decided to share a closer look at how our own “medals” were created: the Broker Awards for 2021.
What Does Creating an Award Program Involve?
With the Tokyo Olympics scheduled for 2021, we felt inspired to organize our own international-style recognition program. Using a structured, methodology-driven approach, the platform announces the best brokers across more than 20 categories each year. These categories include distinctions such as Best Stockbroker of the Year, Best Forex Broker, and many others.
To produce accurate rankings, we made a commitment to keep all broker reviews and related content fully updated throughout the year. The process began in early summer and reached a major milestone by the end of autumn. It required an enormous amount of work.
Fortunately, with the right team, even demanding projects can be enjoyable. After months spent revising and updating broker reviews, our content team came together to discuss how the final rankings would be determined. Weeks of meetings followed—filled with debates, discussions, and detailed analysis. Rather than taking shortcuts, the team carefully evaluated every aspect of the methodology to ensure the results were fair and well-researched.
How the Process Started
One of the first—and most challenging—tasks was building an update schedule. More than 70 broker reviews and numerous related articles needed to be refreshed during 2020.
During March and April, team members Bence, Ádám, and Gergő held regular planning sessions to map out the workflow. These meetings focused on determining update priorities, estimating the team’s capacity, and designing an efficient process for collaboration between different teams responsible for reviewing and updating broker information.
What Changed Compared With Previous Years?
One of the biggest improvements was the creation of a continuous update system. In earlier years, most updates were concentrated in October and November, requiring the entire team to work intensely during that period.
The new workflow spreads updates across the whole year while also improving quality control. Each article now passes through three separate stages:
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Data update – An analyst verifies that all broker information remains accurate and makes the necessary updates.
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Verification – Another analyst reviews the changes and confirms that all broker data points are correct.
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Editorial review – An editor checks language, style, and readability to ensure the content is clear and polished.
Another major milestone in 2020 was the development of an automated data collection tool. This system allows the team to gather structured broker data automatically, making it easier to track information such as fees and other metrics. Early tests of the system were successful and helped streamline the research process.
Memorable Moments Along the Way
Despite the heavy workload, the team made sure to enjoy the process. After all, work is often most rewarding when it includes collaboration and shared experiences.
The team occasionally stepped away from home offices and organized small off-site sessions to focus on strategy and discussion. When it came to the research itself, conversations often became deeply analytical. Team members spent hours examining broker services, debating different perspectives, and refining their evaluations. These detailed discussions played a crucial role in shaping the final rankings.
Team Reflections
Bence:
“Sometimes I felt like I had nothing left to add after our discussions. It’s incredible how much market insight my colleagues bring to the table. This is a very strong team, and I’m already excited to see what we’ll accomplish next.”
Ádám:
“I really enjoy the update process because it constantly reminds me how complex and dynamic the brokerage industry is. It required a lot of effort, but seeing the final results makes me proud of what our team achieved. I’m confident our work will help investors choose the right brokers.”
The Best Brokers for 2021 will be announced soon.
Until then, take a look at the shortlist to see which platforms made the cut.