Financial advisers are forecasting continued expansion in assets under management even as they face political conflict, energy market disruption, shifting global alliances and unclear interest rate direction, according to Natixis Investment Managers’ 2026 Finance Adviser’s survey.
The study found that advisers expect assets under management to rise by 11.9% over the coming year. Over a three-year period, they are projecting average annual growth of 12.8%.
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Natixis IM said reaching those figures will require firms to deal with a number of longer-term pressures across the sector, including technological change, fresh sources of competition and ageing populations.
The survey covered 2,950 investment professionals in 23 countries and examined growth plans, business obstacles and the steps advisers are taking in response to market volatility.
Holding on to existing client assets is one of the more immediate concerns. Nearly three-quarters of advisers, or 74%, said clients are unsettled by current market conditions and therefore want to keep more money in cash.
Respondents said the most common investor mistake is reacting emotionally to news flow, identified by 58% of advisers.
They also pointed to unrealistic return assumptions, cited by 50%, and attempts to chase gains or time the market, cited by 49%.
Artificial intelligence was identified as a major force for both investment markets and advisory businesses.
The survey found that 76% of advisers believe the AI-driven market trend still has room to continue, while 69% said AI could influence markets for the next 20 years.
At the same time, advisers see digital models as a competitive issue.
The findings showed that 49% of Millennials and 40% of Gen Xers prefer digital financial advice over traditional face-to-face services.
In addition, 47% of Millennials and 41% of Gen Xers said they are most likely to trust algorithms when receiving financial advice.
Natixis IM UK sales head Darren Pilbeam said: ”Advisers are facing a number of disruptors as the industry contends with short term challenges presented by an uncertain market as well as larger structural shifts as a result of AI, digital competition, ageing clients and a wave of industry retirements. In the near term they will need to focus efforts on reassuring investors facing uncertainty, but to succeed in the long run the number one factor for advisers will be demonstrating the value they bring that goes beyond asset allocations.”
