Wealth Management For the 2030s: AI, Alternatives and Next-Gen Clients
More than 100 advisors from the United States and Latin America met at Insigneo Summit Sevilla 2025 to map out what will matter most this decade. The focus was clear: AI-enabled productivity, credible guidance on digital assets, portfolio resilience through alternatives, and a client experience that works across borders.
The panel "Trends Redefining Wealth Management" featured Ben Harrison (BNY Pershing), Ahmed Riesgo (Insigneo), and Marc Butler, moderated by Javier Rivero (Insigneo). Their message to leaders: be curious, move fast on what's practical, and build teams that speak fluently to the next generation of clients.
AI in the Advisory Business: From Experiment to Daily Utility
AI has shifted from nice-to-have to basic infrastructure. Insigneo showcased Agent Neo, its AI-driven daily commentary tool, as a signal of where client communication is heading-faster, more relevant, and scalable.
The takeaway for management teams: don't wait for a perfect roadmap. Pilot one or two high-impact use cases, measure time saved and client response, then scale.
- Stand up a 90-day pilot for research summaries, meeting prep, and client updates.
- Create a prompt library, establish compliance guardrails, and require human review.
- Budget for pro-grade models and secure data workflows; track ROI by advisor hour saved.
If you need practical options for teams, explore curated AI tools for finance use cases here: AI Tools for Finance.
Digital Assets: Close the Knowledge Gap
Client curiosity is ahead of advisor fluency. Rivero noted a common question: "How do I learn about crypto and tokenized products?" That gap is a risk if left unaddressed-and an advantage if you lead.
- Define your firm's education path: taxonomy, risks, custody, and use cases.
- Publish a house view on digital assets and tokenization; update quarterly.
- Train a cross-functional SWAT team (investments, compliance, ops) to handle client questions.
For context on tokenization trends, see the BIS overview: Tokenization and the future of finance.
Next-Gen Clients: Meet Heirs Before the Money Moves
Butler put it bluntly: the biggest threat isn't technology-it's the beneficiary you haven't met. Bring heirs into the conversation early and add younger professionals to the team to build trust with future decision-makers.
- Standardize family meetings that include successors by default.
- Assign a younger advisor as co-lead on multigenerational relationships.
- Develop offers for HENRYs (high earners, not rich yet): planning, AI-augmented advice, and access to curated content.
Alternatives: From Diversifier to Growth Engine
Riesgo underscored the role of alternatives when traditional growth slows. Depending on the market and risk profile, he noted that allocations could range from 25% to 50%, spanning hedge funds, private markets, digital assets, gold, and commodities.
- Clarify the purpose of each sleeve: downside defense, income, or growth optionality.
- Pre-wire liquidity, lockups, and pacing so clients know exactly what to expect.
- Use scenario analysis to explain how alts offset equity drawdowns and rate shocks.
Digital Platforms and Interoperability: Make Client Experience Frictionless
Advisors and clients want one experience, not five systems. The call to action: simplify, connect data, and cut steps across onboarding, reporting, and portfolio management.
- Pursue open APIs and event-driven workflows; reduce duplicate data entry.
- Set a target "time-to-yes" for onboarding and a benchmark for report delivery speed.
- Give clients intuitive, mobile-first access with real-time status and secure messaging.
Cross-Border as a Core Competency
As client bases stretch across jurisdictions, teams need compliance clarity, consistent service standards, and operational playbooks. The firms that combine AI-enabled execution with cross-border fluency will win share-and keep it.
What Management Should Do Next
- Within 30 days: Pick two AI use cases, name owners, and set metrics. Publish your initial digital assets position.
- Within 60 days: Launch a next-gen client program; schedule family meetings for top relationships. Define your alternative investment lanes and selection criteria.
- Within 90 days: Ship a simplified client portal workflow; implement API integrations for data sync; report ROI from the AI pilot and expand.
The message from the stage was simple: curiosity plus execution beats size. Move first on AI, get fluent in digital assets, bring heirs to the table, and make the client experience seamless. That's how you stay relevant through the 2030s.
For teams building AI skills across roles, see curated learning paths and certifications: Latest AI Courses.
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