Six fund managers are in the running for this year's IPAC Fund Manager of the Year Awards, including last year's winner AMP Henderson (formerly AMP Asset Management). The other four finalists to make the cut off are Armstrong Jones, BNZ, BT Funds Management, Guardian Trust Funds Management and previous winner Tower Asset Management.

New Zealand Funds Management was not considered for the top award as it contracts out asset alllocation and fund manager selection to research house IPAC.

However, NZ Funds, with five, has the highest number of funds nominated in the individual sector part of the awards.

The second highest number of sector nominations goes to AMP Henderson, which has three of its own funds, plus the National Bank NZ Equity Growth trust which it manages.

BT Funds Management has three nominations, while Tower Managed Funds and Armstrong Jones, have two each.

AXA New Zealand and New Zealand Guardian Trust have one nomination each.

The winners will be announced on Friday October 20. However, it obvious who has won the New Zealand property, international fixed interest and diversified defensive categories as there is only one finalist in each.

The wnners will be NZ Funds NZ Property and Infrastructure trust, the BT Investment Selection - Global Bond Fund, and BNZ's Balanced Fund.

For a full list of finalists CLICK HERE.

For details of how the Awards are decided visit the IPAC Fund Manager of the Year Awards section of Good Returns.