Ocean Park's Duck Campaign Earns Third 2025 Marketing & PR Finalist Nod with ThinkAdvisor Luminaries Recognition
MWN-AI** Summary
Ocean Park Asset Management has achieved remarkable recognition for its innovative and engaging marketing campaign featuring Sortino, its signature rubber duck. The firm has been named a finalist for the prestigious ThinkAdvisor 2025 Luminaries Awards in the category of Asset Managers Firm Award – Excellence in Marketing and PR. This nomination marks the third time in 2025 that the campaign has garnered industry accolades, building on its earlier success with a Gold award at the Financial Communications Society (FCS) Portfolio Awards and finalist status at the MMI/Barron’s Industry Awards.
The “Leveraging the Duck” campaign, developed in collaboration with Norton Agency, serves as a unique marketing strategy that resonates with financial advisors. It cleverly embodies a risk management philosophy inspired by co-founder David Wright’s analogy about ducking when faced with an object hurled at one’s head. This idea has transformed from a simple print advertisement into a cohesive marketing platform involving ETF launches, digital initiatives, and direct engagement, exemplified by shipping thousands of bright yellow rubber ducks to advisors on National Rubber Duck Day.
Vanda Freesman, the Chief Marketing Officer at Ocean Park, underscored the campaign's success in creating a memorable connection with financial advisors and highlighted the broader importance of creativity and discipline in financial communications. Recognized alongside notable contenders like Hartford Funds and Wilmington Trust, Ocean Park continues to build momentum as it prepares for the awards ceremony on December 4, 2025, at the New York Hilton Midtown. As of the end of 2024, Ocean Park manages nearly $5 billion in client assets, reinforcing its standing as a key player in the investment management sector. For more about Ocean Park's investment offerings, you can visit OceanParkAM.com.
MWN-AI** Analysis
Ocean Park Asset Management's recent recognition for its "Leveraging the Duck" campaign highlights the innovative marketing approaches increasingly vital for investment firms seeking to differentiate themselves in a saturated market. Securing finalist status in the ThinkAdvisor 2025 Luminaries Awards is a testament not only to Ocean Park's creative prowess but also to its ability to connect with advisors in a memorable and impactful manner.
The campaign's playful use of a rubber duck as a brand ambassador resonates with audiences while encapsulating the firm's core message about risk management—when faced with challenges, the best response is often to "duck." This clever analogy, linked directly to the firm's investment philosophy, underscores the critical balance between creativity and discipline in effective marketing.
Investors and industry watchers should view this recognition as a strong indicator of Ocean Park's brand strength and relatability in the financial services sector. As it continues to garner accolades, the ripple effect on brand perception can enhance investor trust and broaden client engagement. It's essential for firms to recognize that innovative marketing can lead to increased visibility, new client acquisition, and ultimately, improved asset management performance.
Given Ocean Park's efforts in establishing itself through creative approaches, investors should monitor the company's future marketing strategies and performance closely. The firm is managing nearly $5 billion in client assets, effectively positioning itself for growth amidst a landscape that increasingly favors firms capable of conveying complex financial concepts in engaging ways.
As such, holding positions in Ocean Park's ETFs—such as DUKQ, DUKX, DUKZ, and DUKH—might prove advantageous, reflecting broader industry trends towards personalized and creative investment solutions. The alignment of marketing success with investment performance will be key to ongoing investor interest.
**MWN-AI Summary and Analysis is based on asking OpenAI to summarize and analyze this news release.
For the third time this year, Ocean Park Asset Management, an investment firm focused on disciplined risk management, has received industry recognition for its campaign featuring its intrepid rubber duck, Sortino!
This time the campaign has been named a finalist in the ThinkAdvisor 2025 Luminaries Awards in the Asset Managers Firm Award – Excellence in Marketing and PR category. The recognition spotlights the firm’s inventive and impactful “Leveraging the Duck” campaign, which has already earned Gold at the 2025 Financial Communications Society (FCS) Portfolio Awards and finalist recognition at the MMI/Barron’s Industry Awards. Sortino and Ocean Park are thrilled.
The Luminaries Awards spotlight excellence in financial services, honoring firms and individuals making a lasting impact through leadership, innovation, and creativity. The four nominees in this year’s category are Ocean Park, Hartford Funds, Sentinel Net Lease, and Wilmington Trust / Peppercomm. This nomination follows a series of national recognitions for the Duck campaign earlier this year, underscoring the firm’s ongoing momentum.
“At the start of this campaign, we wanted to connect with advisors in a fresh and memorable way,” said Vanda Freesman, Chief Marketing Officer at Ocean Park. “To see the message resonate so broadly, and to be recognized by multiple respected programs, is deeply rewarding. It’s a testament not just to a creative idea, but to the discipline and philosophy it represents.”
Developed in partnership with Norton Agency, the “Leveraging the Duck” campaign draws on a long-standing analogy from firm co-founder David Wright: “When someone throws an object at your head, what do you do? You duck.” Sortino agrees.
What began as a print ad in 2024 has since become a unifying platform for the firm’s marketing, woven into ETF launches, digital and print advertising, events, and a direct mail initiative that shipped thousands of bright yellow rubber ducks to advisors on National Rubber Duck Day.
Winners of the ThinkAdvisor 2025 Luminaries Awards will be announced at a ceremony on December 4, 2025 at the New York Hilton Midtown. Sortino can’t wait.
More information on Ocean Park’s investment offerings and suite of ETFs DUKQ, DUKX, DUKZ, and DUKH can be found at OceanParkAM.com .
About Ocean Park Asset Management
Ocean Park Asset Management, LLC is an SEC registered investment advisor that serves as an investment adviser to an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, where it provides investment management services to Mutual Funds and Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), namely the Ocean Park Mutual Funds and the Ocean Park ETFs. Ocean Park manages nearly $5 billion of client assets as of 12/31/24.
RISKS and DISCLOSURES
Award criteria: Ocean Park Asset Management was named a finalist in September 2025 for the ThinkAdvisor Luminaries Awards, based on work completed over the past 18 months. The award is organized and tabulated by ThinkAdvisor’s editorial staff and Luminaries advisory board with no application or participation fee required.
Award criteria: Ocean Park Asset Management was named a finalist in July 2025 for the MMI/Barron’s Awards, based on work completed from June 2024 to present. The award is organized and tabulated by the Money Management Institute in partnership with Barron’s with no application or participation fee required. As an MMI member firm, Ocean Park does pay membership fees not related to or taken into consideration for this award.
Award criteria: Ocean Park Asset Management was named a winner in May 2025 for the 2025 FCS Portfolio Awards, based on work completed from June 2024 to present. The award is organized and tabulated by the Financial Communications Society. All entries require a fee for consideration.
These awards are not based on investment advisory services or performance.
Advisory services are offered through Ocean Park Asset Management, LLC, a registered investment adviser (“RIA”) regulated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The advisory services are only offered in jurisdictions where the RIA is appropriately registered. The use of the term “registered” does not imply any particular level of skill or training and does not imply any approval by the SEC. For information pertaining to the registration status of Ocean Park Asset Management, LLC, please call 1- 844-727-1813 or refer to the Investment Adviser Public Disclosure website ( www.adviserinfo.sec.gov ).
Past performance does not guarantee future results and there is no guarantee that any investment strategy will achieve its objectives, generate profits, or avoid losses.
Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the Ocean Park Mutual Funds and Ocean Park ETFs (collectively, “Ocean Park Funds”). This and other information about the Ocean Park Funds are contained in the prospectus and should be read carefully before investing. The prospectus can be obtained by calling toll free 1-866-738-4363 (1-866-RETI-FND). The Ocean Park Funds are distributed by Northern Lights Distributors, LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Ocean Park Asset Management, LLC is not affiliated with Northern Light Distributors, LLC.
There is no guarantee that any investment strategy will achieve its objectives, generate profits, or avoid losses.
IMPORTANT FUND RISKS
While the shares of ETFs are tradeable on secondary markets, they may not readily trade in all market conditions and may trade at significant discounts in periods of market stress. ETFs trade like stocks, are subject to investment risk, fluctuate in market value and may trade at prices above or below the ETF’s net asset value. Brokerage commissions and ETF expenses will reduce returns. There is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its objective. ETFs are subject to specific risks, depending on the nature of the underlying strategy of the fund. These risks could include liquidity risk, emerging markets risk, foreign market risk, sector risk, as well as risks associated with fixed income securities, real estate investments, and commodities, to name a few.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251028972818/en/
Tyler Bradford
Hewes Communications (212) 207-9454
tyler@hewescomm.com
FAQ**
How has the “Leveraging the Duck” campaign, which promotes the Ocean Park Diversified Income ETF DUKZ, influenced the firm’s overall brand recognition and engagement with advisors?
In what specific ways does the recognition from the ThinkAdvisor Luminaries Awards enhance the value proposition of the Ocean Park Diversified Income ETF DUKZ to potential investors?
Can you elaborate on the marketing strategies within the “Leveraging the Duck” campaign that have directly contributed to the successful promotion of Ocean Park Diversified Income ETF DUKZ?
What insights from the awards and campaigns, such as those for the Ocean Park Diversified Income ETF DUKZ, could be applied to future marketing efforts by Ocean Park Asset Management?
**MWN-AI FAQ is based on asking OpenAI questions about Duke Energy Corporation 5.125% Junior Subordinated Debentures due 2073 (NASDAQ: DUKH).
NASDAQ: DUKH
DUKH Trading
-0.32% G/L:
$24.03 Last:
1,877 Volume:
$24.06 Open:
