NEW YORK, April 14, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) – The global asset and wealth management (AWM) and alternatives industries are entering a new phase, in which firms need to capitalize on years of investment in artificial intelligence (AI), private markets and data platforms to improve performance, according to the latest AWM and Alternatives Outlook from Alpha FMC, a leading global consultancy for the financial services industry.
The reports, which are based on qualitative research conducted between global leadership teams at AWM and Options, highlight how the industry is moving from experimentation with technologies such as AI to large-scale implementation aimed at improving productivity, strengthening risk management and enhancing investment decision making.
The outlook said that although the market remained relatively resilient in the last financial year despite considerable geopolitical shocks, growth in asset management, wealth management and alternatives has become largely dependent on operational discipline, strong data foundation and clarity of strategic focus. This comes at a time when companies are facing tightening of distribution channels, rising customer expectations and increasing regulatory scrutiny on technology, liquidity and sustainability.
The AWM report has identified the following themes shaping the industry:
- Scaled AI Adoption and Value Realization: With an increasing focus on measurable productivity, decision making, and strong governance controls, AI is moving from pilots to enterprise-wide deployment in research, portfolio analysis, sales, and operations.
- Public and Private Market Convergence: De-equitization and growth in private markets are driving demand for total portfolio oversight, integrating exposure, liquidity and risk across public and private assets.
- Operational Simplification and Flexibility: Fee pressure is driving companies to simplify technology assets and processes with greater reliance on data foundation, automation and vendor oversight to improve efficiency and reduce risk.
- Governance and Regulatory Discipline: The separation of global regulation is strengthening governance, and companies are incorporating risk, compliance, AI oversight, cyber resilience and sustainability into product and technology development.
The alternative report identified the following themes:
- AI operations and end-to-end automation: Companies are using AI for monitoring, sourcing, due diligence and portfolio inspection with automation key to increasing AUM in credit, private equity and real estate.
- Hybrid Strategies and Product Diversification: Managers are expanding into credit, secondaries and hybrid structures, while evergreen and semi-liquid vehicles increase access but require stronger liquidity and reporting controls.
- Data, Transparency and Portfolio Oversight: Growing product complexity is driving demand for integrated data models, better valuation governance and portfolio-wide visibility across public and private markets.
- Governance, Liquidity and Risk Discipline: As insurance capital and retail participation in alternative investments increases, liquidity management, governance frameworks and cyber security are becoming increasingly important.
Alpha FMC’s Asset & Wealth Management and Alternative Outlooks are based on insights from senior leadership at asset management firms, wealth managers and institutional asset owners. The research examines the priorities of CEOs, chief investment officers (CIOs), chief operating officers (COOs) and functional leaders as they position their organizations for sustainable growth.
Joe Morant, Global Head of Asset and Wealth Management Consulting at Alpha FMC He said the industry is now entering a more disciplined phase of change: “Over the past few years, asset and wealth managers have invested heavily in AI, data platforms and private markets capabilities. In the coming financial year, the focus will shift strongly to execution – ensuring that these investments deliver solid, measurable value while strengthening operational resilience and maintaining regulatory confidence is critical. Shareholders and clients will demand improvement.”
Nick Feinberg, Global Head of Alternatives at Alpha FMC, commented: “It has been an interesting year for alternatives. There has been a gradual de-equitisation of global markets with companies going private for longer periods and delistings. Credit markets have grown to approximately $3.5 trillion, dwarfing equity markets, although there are well-documented challenges in this sector. Infrastructure is no longer just roads and bridges, but the pipeline to the digital and energy economy. This means that alternative asset managers, whether credit, private equity or Be in real estate, optimizing your business, funding and retail investing models and processes using data and AI to improve performance, governance and risk management.
Both approaches can be downloaded online Here.
About Alpha FMC
Alpha Financial Markets Consulting is a leading global consultancy to the financial services industry. Alpha combines highly specialist sector-focused strategy, management consulting and technology expertise to support the client transformation lifecycle. Founded in 2003, it now has more than 1,540 advisors across North America, UK, Europe, MENA and APAC.
Alpha is backed by investment partner Bridgepoint since 2024, one of the world’s leading quoted private asset development investors.