A management buyout from Downing LLP has culminated in the launch of Capel Asset Management, a new independent firm specializing in liquid alternatives. The team, now operating as an owner-managed entity, brings with it two core investment strategies and over £405 million in assets under management.
Two major financial players have secured critical operating licences, signaling a shift in their global strategy. Rathbones has obtained a Markets in Financial Instruments Directive permit from the Central Bank of Ireland to serve the European Union, while US-based Capital Group has gained regulatory approval to operate in Abu Dhabi.
Argentina is set to join the global market for citizenship-by-investment programs, establishing a pathway for foreign investors to secure residency and citizenship. The initiative, slated to open for applications in late 2026, marks a significant shift toward liberal economic policies under the administration of President Javier Milei.
Geopolitical instability is now the primary anxiety for global family offices, yet it has failed to dampen their appetite for risk. According to a JP Morgan Private Bank survey of 125 firms, investors are aggressively pouring capital into artificial intelligence, viewing the cost of missing the rally as prohibitive.
HSBC is planning a significant reduction in its UK wealth management workforce, targeting deep cuts to specialist staff and financial advisors. The move, aimed at accelerating the integration of artificial intelligence across the bank’s operations, signals a aggressive shift toward automated banking processes within the group’s private wealth division.
With over 25 years of experience across the MENA region, Brahim Ben Ammar has been appointed head of Middle East for Seattle-based Russell Investments. Operating out of the Dubai International Financial Centre, he is tasked with scaling the firm’s regional business and deepening its strategic partnerships in institutional and wealth markets.
Investec is opening its REALIS real estate equity strategy to wealth managers and family offices, marking the first time the firm has invited third-party capital into a vehicle previously reserved for its private banking clients. The move targets investors seeking exposure to the UK’s underserved lower mid-market property sector.
Johan Torgeby resigned as president and chief executive of Swedish banking giant SEB on October 6, 2026, citing personal and family reasons. His departure, which included an immediate exit from the bank's board, concludes a ten-year tenure at the Stockholm-based institution, leaving the firm under interim leadership.
Niel Krastin steps into a director role at Gen II Fund Services in Guernsey, while Iain McGowan joins Aegon Asset Management as partnership director in Edinburgh. These appointments reflect ongoing talent acquisition efforts as both firms aim to strengthen their respective footprints in the private capital and institutional sectors.
Paris-based alternative asset manager Tikehau Capital has listed its European private credit strategy on the iCapital Marketplace, marking a shift toward broader distribution for its ELTIF 2.0-compliant fund. The move enables wealth managers across EMEA markets to access senior secured debt previously reserved for institutional investors.
Private equity giant KKR has agreed to purchase Gen II Fund Services, a major administrator overseeing more than $2 trillion in assets, for an enterprise value of $5.1 billion. The acquisition, involving sellers including Hg and General Atlantic, underscores the increasing value of financial infrastructure in private markets.
The UHNW Institute is standardizing how advisors approach ultra-high-net-worth clients through its updated Table Stakes framework. By visualizing client needs as a tabletop supported by firm, advisor, service, and process pillars, the think tank aims to bridge the gap between providing personalized intimacy and maintaining institutional scale.
Global wealth managers are recalibrating portfolios as the intersection of national security, aerospace engineering, and cybersecurity evolves into a core investment theme. With geopolitical tensions driving record procurement budgets, capital is flowing into specialized funds that treat space and defence as integrated, high-growth domains.
Matt Wotton, a seasoned executive formerly responsible for the sports, media, and entertainment division at Coutts, has joined Weatherbys Private Bank to oversee the same sector. His transition to the horse-racing-linked institution arrives as wealth managers increasingly target the complex financial needs of high-profile industry figures.
Neil De Sousa has officially assumed his role as head of Schroders Wealth Management for Geneva and the Middle East. Formerly a senior leader at HSBC Private Bank, De Sousa joins the firm during a period of structural evolution following its integration with the US-based investment manager Nuveen.
DWS has moved to bolster its real estate platform by acquiring Peakside Capital Advisors, while Jersey-based Hawksford finalized the purchase of two Dutch firms. These deals signal an aggressive push by both wealth managers to scale their specialized services and geographic reach across Germany, the Netherlands, and Central Europe.
Standard Chartered has launched its 10th sub-fund under its Singapore-domiciled Variable Capital Company platform, securing $2.6 billion in assets under management since the start of the year. The new Signature Select Premium Cash Reserve Fund targets clients seeking capital preservation combined with returns exceeding standard cash rates.
Half of security leaders now identify AI-driven attacks as their most daunting challenge, a sentiment driving 84 per cent of global firms to expand their cybersecurity budgets. According to PwC’s 2027 Global Digital Trust Insights Survey, the rush to fund defense measures is outpacing actual organizational preparedness.
William Hepburne-Scott steps into the newly created role of chief commercial officer at RBC Wealth Management, a promotion marking his third decade with the firm. The appointment serves as the anchor for a broader restructuring of the company’s regional leadership across the UK, Jersey, and the Republic of Ireland.
Capital Group has officially expanded its portfolio by launching six active exchange-traded funds on the New York Stock Exchange. Moving beyond its traditional investment structures, the global firm is betting on a model where managers actively dictate portfolio allocations rather than simply tracking market indices.
As wealth managers scramble to gauge the impact of artificial intelligence on global markets, professional sport has emerged as a rare, human-centric sanctuary. In an era where algorithms can simulate almost anything, the unpredictable drama of live competition offers a tangible, high-value moat that investors are increasingly eager to capture.
Confidence among the UK’s wealthiest individuals has reached new lows, as speculation surrounding potential tax reforms under Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s government triggers widespread financial unease. The latest Saltus Wealth Index reveals that fears over estate duties and pension adjustments are now fundamentally altering how families manage their assets.
While 73 percent of European wealth managers have integrated private market assets into their portfolios, most firms fail to communicate these complex offerings clearly to clients. A new report by Peregrine Communications reveals a significant transparency gap, with only a small fraction of banks providing dedicated educational resources for investors.
RBC BlueBay Asset Management and Lincoln International are bolstering their European operations through two high-profile leadership appointments. As the wealth management sector navigates shifting market conditions, these firms have tapped industry veterans to oversee the expansion of their alternatives and financial services advisory platforms across the continent.
A £9.5 billion deal has officially merged two financial giants, as US-based Nuveen completes its acquisition of Schroders. The transaction creates a global powerhouse managing $2.6 trillion in assets, signaling a broader push for scale and diversification within the highly competitive Anglo-American wealth management landscape.
With 75 dollar billionaires and 10,000 ultra-high-net-worth individuals residing in the Nordic region, BNP Paribas is launching a dedicated wealth management unit. The French banking giant aims to capture this growing pool of capital by integrating its institutional banking strength with specialized services for entrepreneurs and family offices.
Jersey-based corporate and fund services provider Hawksford has unified three separate Luxembourg businesses into a single legal entity, Hawksford (Luxembourg) SA. The restructuring follows a 2025 acquisition spree, effectively folding multiple regulatory licenses under the oversight of the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier into one streamlined operation.
Despite geopolitical friction and rising energy costs, Paris-based asset manager Carmignac is maintaining an overweight position in emerging market equities. Kevin Thozet, a member of the firm’s investment committee, argues that undervalued Asian technology firms offer a critical hedge against broader economic cooling expected later this year.
Global initial public offerings surged to $93.3 billion in the third quarter of 2026, marking a 79 percent increase over the previous year. Despite this massive influx of capital, the actual frequency of new listings dipped by 2 percent to 367, signaling a shift toward fewer but significantly larger market entries.
Thirteen percent of UK adults aged 45 to 75 now expect to reach their centenary, a shift prompting a fundamental reassessment of long-term financial planning. As traditional retirement milestones fade, a new study from RBC Wealth Management highlights the growing pressure to fund a longer, more purpose-driven third quarter.
