Big shifts, big challenges and new opportunities for advisers

This year promises a changing market and environment – with plenty of opportunities along the way.

“What are the biggest challenges facing the adviser industry right now – and what’s the best way to offer support?” was one of the big discussion points at our Intermediary Wealth team event in Edinburgh this month.

Changing market dynamics is right up there at the top of the list. That was echoed in the insightful and thought-provoking sessions by our guest speakers Mark Polson and Rich Mayor from the lang cat.

Their message was clear – strong voices and leadership have never mattered more, with regulatory changes around IHT and pensions bringing complexity – and opportunities for advisers to really make a difference.

Those changes to pensions and inheritance tax are due in April 2027, creating an intense period of preparation for advisers, clients, and providers alike – and plenty of opportunities for much-needed advice. The challenge will be balancing readiness for such a big reset, with wealth, inheritance and tax planning, and keeping pension money outside IHT for as long as possible.

Timing is going to be everything when it comes to meaningful client conversations about innovative ways to build and preserve lasting wealth.

Our recently published 2026 Investor Confidence Barometer explores what’s shaping clients’ confidence levels, investment decisions, and how advisers are responding in the face of their demands and market pressures.

With advisers working as hard as possible to give a great level of service to their clients and grow assets at the same time, they’re looking for ways to conduct their business in a way that is efficient and streamlined so that they can focus on what they do best. As the Confidence Barometer highlights, it’s all about the enduring value of advice.

At a time when economic uncertainty, technological change and regulatory shifts are converging, advisers remain trusted and much needed partners for clients – particularly in light of those upcoming inheritance tax changes.

Their message was clear – strong voices and leadership have never mattered more…

As our Investor Confidence Barometer reveals, the good news is that nearly two-thirds of investors (62%) plan to increase their investments this year, with more than one in five (23%) aiming to significantly strengthen their portfolios. That level of intent speaks volumes about resilience and opportunity in the market.

I’m optimistic about 2026, too, in the face of renewed confidence and evolving client needs.

We’ve got a busy schedule of adviser town halls planned, with expert speakers covering everything from the economy to investments and platform developments. There are our planned additions to the investment solutions available on our platform and the launch of our onshore bond – one potential pensions-IHT solution. We’re supporting advisers with the tools and solutions to help them focus on what they do best: add value for their clients and grow their business.

Building on the past year and more, we’re constantly adding more capabilities to our platform. We know that managing clients in different back books is challenging from a risk and productivity perspective and that’s why we’ve developed an asset transfer service to support advisers who want to consolidate from legacy contracts to a modern digital platform.

Effective asset transfer project management support is vital, and we are incorporating the new Origo Asset Migration service to help take the admin burden off advisers’ shoulders.

Other platforms might still rely on wet signatures, faxes and complicated processes, while our asset transfer service will incorporate Origo’s tool to automate pretty much everything: it’s intuitive and doesn’t involve time-consuming training. That’s got to be something of a game changer for busy advisers and paraplanners alike.

According to the Chinese Zodiac, the new year begins in mid-February and ushers in the Year of the Horse – a symbol of movement, courage, energy, and high aspirations. It’s a year that promises perseverance, optimism, and opportunity.

With those changes to pensions and IHT galloping towards us at pace and the always busy tax year end right around the corner, that sounds about right.