WTW’s Wealth Investments business has identified key challenges and priorities facing the wealth management industry in 2026. The research, conducted in collaboration with the Thinking Ahead Institute, provides a view of what is shaping agendas across global wealth management firms.

Fifty-one per cent of global wealth managers surveyed say that deepening how they engage with clients is a top priority this year, new research released yesterday by WTW Wealth Investments reveals.

Holding on to staff is seen as the most important potential challenge while the UK is the only region that says clients favour wealth growth over preserving it.

Such findings come at a time of multi-trillion-dollar/equivalent wealth transfer, a rising affluent middle class in regions such as Asia and parts of the Middle East, and volatile markets and geopolitics.

The study gathered views of 250 global wealth management professionals, with each firm managing at least $500 million in assets, from across five regions – Europe, Asia, North America, and the UK (27 countries in total).

The research shows that meeting evolving client expectations and deepening engagement will dominate the agendas of wealth managers this year, with 51 per cent of wealth managers globally citing these areas as their key priority over the next two to three years, underlining the industry’s drive to offer a more personalised and responsive service.

Other priorities included growth through innovation, with 32 per cent planning to expand or develop new services and capabilities, while 31 per cent cited ongoing adaptation to changing regulatory and compliance demands.

Attracting and retaining skilled professionals is the greatest challenge for wealth managers, cited by 40 per cent of respondents, as it can hinder firms’ ability to deliver consistent expertise. In parallel, over one-third of wealth managers anticipate that the accelerating pace of digital transformation will pose significant hurdles, with many highlighting the difficulty of keeping up with technological advancements.

While the generational handover of assets remains a structural force shaping industry evolution, WTW’s analysis identifies accelerating demand for advanced digital tools to model long-term family scenarios and cross-border implications. Additionally, there has been a noticeable shift in value alignment, with a significant proportion of next-generation clients showing clear preferences for sustainable, purpose-led investments and transparent reporting, the firm said.

Regional dynamics also remain pronounced. The research identifies differing rates of digital adoption and client values across continental Europe, Asia, North America, and the UK, requiring firms to build flexible, regionally sensitive strategies. In Asia and continental Europe, business ownership remains the leading source of wealth, driving greater entrepreneurial focus and appetite for innovation, while inherited wealth dominates in the UK and North America, further reinforcing the need for multigenerational planning.

“Our latest research clearly shows that wealth managers are responding to a new era of client expectations and industry complexity,” Ben Leach, head of GB retail and wealth investments at WTW, said. “Deepening engagement, attracting and retaining top talent and responding to regional differences are no longer just aspirations they are essential to sustaining growth and delivering value.”

WTW Investments has more than 900 colleagues worldwide, more than 1,000 investment clients globally, assets under advisory of over $3.4 trillion and $188 billion of assets under management.