‘Wealth transfer increases risk of outflows for advisors’
Asset managers and financial planners need to focus more explicitly on heirs in the run-up to the “Great Wealth Transfer” in order to limit asset outflows and safeguard their own future. They should, in fact, behave more like a family office.
Neobrokers and neobanks are putting pressure on wealth management margins
Neobrokers and digital banks are advancing into wealth management and are putting further pressure on margins in the sector. Firms must choose between scale or differentiation to avoid ending up in a so-called “Valley of Death.”
The rise of AI may make smallcap outperformance harder
Machine learning is increasingly used to identify inefficiencies in small- and midcap markets. But as more investors adopt the same technology, it could make generating alpha more difficult.
Semi-transparent ETFs target free-riding on investment strategies
European asset managers are increasingly looking at semi-transparent ETFs to reduce the risk of intellectual property leakage. However, the relatively new vehicle has yet to generate unanimous enthusiasm.
Investors manage just fine with less research on smallcaps
European regulator Esma is advocating a revision of research rules, expected to take effect next year. Allowing research and trade execution to be paid for jointly again could create new opportunities for smallcap coverage.
Investors favor EM equities over those from the US in 2026
A majority of large asset managers are most optimistic about equities for 2026, particularly those from emerging markets. US equities remain a strategic cornerstone, while Europe and Japan play a smaller but growing role in geographic diversification.
In Liechtenstein, VanEck shapes tomorrow’s fund management
In 2020, VanEck chose Liechtenstein to lay the foundation for its first crypto investments. Since then, the crypto team has expanded significantly. According to VanEck, this is a preview of what the future of fund management may look like.
Over 1 billion euro in Robeco’s active ETFs
About a year after launching its first active ETFs, Robeco has attracted more than 1 billion euro in assets. Four of the six listed index trackers now hold over 100 million euro each—a key threshold for institutional investors.
Major banks bet on infrastructure as a building block in private markets
Within private markets, interest in infrastructure is growing. Both ING and Rabobank are positioning this investment category as a “building block” in their private markets offerings. Goldman expects a larger asset allocation from institutional investors in the coming years.
‘Inexperienced’ family offices turn to illiquid investments
Family offices are increasing their exposure to illiquid investments, even though they often lack the expertise to properly assess private market opportunities.