Wealth
Julius Baer Taps Former Bank of Singapore Manager for Southeast Asia
Nira Tanoko, a seasoned veteran of the wealth management sector, has been named the new market head for Southeast Asia at Julius Baer. Based in Singapore, she will report directly to region head Jimmy Lee, taking charge of the bank’s efforts to service high and ultra-high net worth clients across the territory.
Schroders Pre-Tax Profit Doubles Amid Nuveen Acquisition
UK asset manager Schroders reported a statutory pre-tax profit of £396.8 million for the first half of 2026, more than double the £196.9 million recorded a year prior. The surge comes as the firm nears its acquisition by the US-based Nuveen, reflecting a broader trend of transatlantic consolidation in wealth management.
PIMCO Brings StocksPLUS Strategy to UCITS ETF Market
PIMCO is expanding its European fund lineup by converting its long-standing StocksPLUS strategy into a UCITS ETF format. The new PIMCO Advantage StocksPLUS US Large Cap UCITS ETF aims to marry US equity exposure with active fixed income management, marking a significant shift in how the firm distributes its flagship investment products.
Societe Generale Private Banking Profits Jump 18 Percent
Societe Generale’s private banking division posted a robust €363 million in net income for the second quarter of 2026, marking an 18 percent year-on-year increase. This growth reflects a broader trend of rising performance across the French lender's business units as the group pivots toward higher profitability targets.
St James's Place Profit Dips Amid Fee Restructuring and Refunds
St James's Place reported a decline in adjusted pre-tax profits to £278.4 million for the first half of 2026, down from £307.0 million a year prior. While assets under management climbed to a record £240.8 billion, the wealth manager faces ongoing pressure from charging controversies and a shift in its fee model.
Nominations Open for 2027 WealthBriefing WealthTech Americas Awards
The Sixth WealthBriefing WealthTech Americas Awards have officially opened for entries, inviting firms across North and Latin America to showcase their latest innovations. The program highlights leaders in the wealth technology ecosystem, spanning critical sectors from artificial intelligence and cybersecurity to digital client onboarding and regulatory compliance.
Lighthouse Canton Targets NRI Wealth with Cross-Border Platform
With the Indian diaspora reaching 35 million people and remittances hitting a record $135 billion, Singapore-based Lighthouse Canton is launching a dedicated platform to consolidate fragmented wealth. The initiative aims to provide non-resident Indians with a single advisory relationship spanning global and domestic financial holdings.
Bloomberg Acquires Canoe Intelligence to Automate Private Markets Data
Bloomberg has reached an agreement to acquire Canoe Intelligence, an AI-driven platform specializing in the automation of private market data. The deal, for which financial terms remain undisclosed, marks a strategic push by the financial information giant to modernize how wealth managers process and interpret opaque, non-listed asset information.
Standard Chartered Posts Record Profit as Wealth Unit Revenue Soars
A 38 per cent surge in wealth solutions income has propelled Standard Chartered to a record pre-tax profit of $4.8 billion for the first half of 2026. The performance, bolstered by record affluent net new money, exceeded analyst expectations and prompted the bank to announce a new $1 billion share buyback program.
Deutsche Bank Private Banking Stagnates Despite Asset Inflow Surge
A 39 percent jump in net flows failed to budge the bottom line for Deutsche Bank’s private banking division in the second quarter of 2026. While the arm captured €9 billion in new client money, pre-tax profit stalled at €605 million, matching the performance recorded during the same period last year.
Julius Baer Partners with Dubai to Attract Global Wealth
With private wealth entities in the Dubai International Financial Centre surging by 61 percent annually, Swiss lender Julius Baer has formalized a strategic agreement with the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism to act as a bridge for international family offices and business owners relocating to the emirate.
Ardian Reshuffles Leadership as Infrastructure Chief Steps Back
Private investment giant Ardian is restructuring its top-level management, appointing François Jerphagnon and Marion Calcine as executive vice-presidents. The transition, effective September 30, marks a significant shift for the Paris-based firm as it balances long-term succession planning with the continued expansion of its core infrastructure platform.
Trimontium and Citi Investment Management Announce Key Executive Hires
Alternative asset manager Trimontium has tapped legal veteran Graham Morrison as general counsel, while Citi Investment Management has recruited Rob Lunn to head its portfolio solutions unit in the EMEA region, signaling a strategic focus on cross-border growth and expanded institutional reach for both firms.
UBS Wealth Management Revenue Climbs as Profits Beat Forecasts
UBS posted a robust second quarter in 2026, with group net profit rising to $2.8 billion, comfortably outpacing analyst expectations. The Swiss banking giant’s wealth management division served as the primary engine for this growth, reporting a 13 percent year-on-year revenue increase alongside significant gains in invested assets.
New York Data Centre Ban Tests AI Infrastructure Ambitions
New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s one-year moratorium on major data centre construction has ignited a global debate over the sustainability of the AI boom. As local pushback against resource-heavy facilities intensifies, investors are grappling with whether regulatory hurdles will stifle growth or merely shift the competitive landscape for power and water.
J Stern & Co Expands Swiss Footprint With bvo capital Merger
Independent asset manager J Stern & Co will absorb Geneva-based bvo capital to consolidate its Swiss operations, a move that pushes the firm’s total managed assets past the $2.8 billion mark. The deal reflects a broader trend of industry consolidation across Europe as firms seek greater scale and shared research capabilities.
Barclays Wealth Profits Dip as Operating Costs Climb
Barclays’ private banking and wealth management division saw attributable profit slide 20 percent to £148 million for the first half of 2026. While total income grew to £713 million, a sharp 11 percent rise in operating expenses to £524 million squeezed margins and widened the division’s cost-to-income ratio.
State Street Recruits BlackRock Veteran for Digital Wealth Push
Henry MacLeod has been named managing director and head of Direct Retail and Digital Wealth International at State Street Investment Management. Tasked with accelerating the firm's international retail strategy, he joins from BlackRock, where he previously spearheaded digital distribution efforts across the EMEA region for years.
Objectway Moves to Acquire French Software Specialist SLIB
European wealthtech provider Objectway has entered exclusive negotiations to purchase the stakes held by BNP Paribas and Natixis in SLIB. This strategic bid for the Paris-based capital markets software firm marks the company's second major acquisition in less than a month, signaling an aggressive expansion of its European footprint.
J Stern & Co Expands Swiss Footprint via Merger with bvo capital
Independent asset manager J Stern & Co is consolidating its Swiss operations by merging with Geneva-based bvo capital, a move set to push the firm’s total assets under management beyond the $2.8 billion mark. The deal reflects a broader trend of industry integration across European wealth management markets.
Shin Sawada Takes Helm at SuMi Trust AM London
Shin Sawada has been appointed managing director of Sumitomo Mitsui Trust International Limited, the London arm of the Japanese investment giant. He steps into the role previously held by Hiroki Moritani, who returned to Tokyo this July to oversee global business development for the firm's headquarters.
Executive Moves: Natixis, WBD, Downing and T. Rowe Price Expand Teams
Wealth management firms are reshuffling senior leadership across Europe as demand for specialized investment and legal services intensifies. From Paris to London, major players including Natixis Investment Managers, Womble Bond Dickinson, Downing, and T. Rowe Price have announced key appointments to bolster their ETF, private capital, and estate planning divisions.
Goldman Sachs Scales Up Private Market Investment Division
Goldman Sachs is aggressively diversifying its asset management portfolio by consolidating its alternative investment capabilities into a singular, expanded division. This move signals a deliberate shift toward private markets, positioning the firm to capture deeper fee-based revenue streams as traditional public equity and debt markets face increased volatility.
Arbra Partners Expands to UAE and Unveils Portugal Resort Project
After a decade navigating the constraints of family offices, Lucas Bitencourt is scaling his London-based firm, Arbra Partners, into the Gulf. He plans to open a UAE office by year-end, betting on long-term regional demand while simultaneously launching a £110 million luxury eco-tourism development in Portugal.
Robert Irving Burns Targets £33 Billion Debt Wall with New Advisory
With £33 billion in commercial loans maturing in 2026, London-based Robert Irving Burns has launched a private finance arm to assist clients navigating a landscape of elevated interest rates and tighter lending criteria. The new division aims to bridge the widening equity gap for investors and developers facing asset repricing.
Fasanara Capital and TEAM Announce Key Strategic Appointments
London-based Fasanara Capital has tapped former Man Group strategist James Hylands to spearhead its new AI Lab, while wealth manager TEAM has appointed industry veteran John Cusins to its board of directors, signaling a push for both technological integration and expanded corporate growth across the financial sector.
UOB Targets Fivefold Wealth Growth in Hong Kong by 2030
UOB Private Bank plans to quintuple its assets under management and wealth revenue in Hong Kong by 2030. To support this aggressive expansion, the Singapore-based lender intends to triple its local client advisor headcount, leveraging a strategic corridor connecting mainland China, Hong Kong, and the broader ASEAN region.
Beyond Luxury: The Strategic Shift in Private Concierge Services
Concierge services for the ultra-wealthy are evolving from simple lifestyle assistance into a critical, strategic pillar of family office management. As global complexity grows, wealth managers are increasingly integrating curated, high-stakes coordination—ranging from medical access to aviation—directly into their core fiduciary offerings to deepen long-term client relationships.
The Hidden Legal Perils of AI Meeting Assistants
Conflict arises when the convenience of automated meeting transcripts clashes with the rigid requirements of attorney-client privilege. While AI notetakers streamline record-keeping for modern professionals, legal experts warn that uploading sensitive discussions to cloud-based tools can effectively waive confidentiality, exposing private communications to discovery in court.
Wealth Management Hiring Roundup: William Blair, Canaccord, Margetts
A wave of senior appointments across the wealth management sector signals a push for specialized expertise, ranging from global equity strategy to complex tax planning and enterprise risk management, as firms seek to bolster their competitive positioning in the UK and international markets.