Wealth
Jersey-based VG Elevates Sheena Huggett to Head of Family Office
Jersey-headquartered service provider VG has promoted Sheena Huggett to lead its family office division, marking a strategic shift for the firm as it expands its footprint in international capital markets. Huggett, a director at the firm since 2024, will now oversee the integrated services tailored for ultra-high net worth families.
Jamie Proctor Appointed to Lead Skybound Wealth Athletes Division
Transitioning from professional football to financial planning, Jamie Proctor has been named head of the Athletes & Creators division at Skybound Wealth. He assumes leadership of the unit just months after joining the international firm, tasked with managing the complex financial interests of sports stars and digital media professionals.
US Regulators Challenge Banks Over Discriminatory Account Closures
A sweeping review by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has exposed that nine major US banks routinely denied services to clients based on political or religious grounds. While the regulator stopped short of issuing immediate penalties, the findings confirm that discriminatory de-banking policies persisted through September 2025.
Mediolanum Maintains Neutral Stance Amidst Global Market Volatility
Investment managers at Mediolanum International Funds signaled a cautious yet optimistic outlook during the annual MedMe event in Dublin, prioritizing portfolio diversification across regional equities and fixed income to buffer against geopolitical instability and shifting economic debt burdens in Europe and the United States.
Amundi Targets Space and Energy Megatrends With Three New ETFs
European asset manager Amundi is expanding its thematic portfolio with three exchange-traded funds focused on space technology, critical metals, and electrification infrastructure. The new instruments, designed to capture structural shifts in the global economy and AI development, begin trading on Xetra and Euronext Paris on October 20.
JTC Targets Americas Growth With Four Senior Appointments
With U.S. household wealth projected to see an $80 trillion generational transfer by 2045, Jersey-based administrator JTC is aggressively scaling its Private Capital Services division. The firm has recruited four senior specialists to bolster business development and client services across the United States and Latin American markets.
Leadership Shifts at Control Risks and Amber River
Strategic intelligence firm Control Risks and financial planning group Amber River have announced key leadership appointments, signaling a push to bolster advisory and governance capabilities. The moves include the arrival of Chris Holt at Control Risks, while Amber River adds two senior executives to its board to drive growth.
Pacific Asset Management Establishes Uruguay Hub for Latin America
London-based investment house Pacific Asset Management has planted a permanent flag in Montevideo, launching a dedicated Latin American entity to capture surging regional demand. The firm transition two veteran sales directors to full-time status after the duo successfully secured over $100 million in investor capital through a third-party marketing arrangement.
Oury Clark and G3 Partners Forge Transatlantic Expansion Pact
UK-based professional services firm Oury Clark has entered a strategic partnership with North American market-entry specialist G3 Partners. The collaboration connects Oury Clark’s legal, accounting, and tax expertise with G3’s investor outreach and business development networks across Western US and Canadian innovation hubs.
First Manhattan Prioritizes Data Structure Over AI Tool Sprawl
For Graham Clifford, the partner and CTO at First Manhattan, the rush to adopt artificial intelligence often misses the mark by prioritizing disparate tools over a unified information strategy. He argues that the true value of AI in wealth management relies on the integrity of the data foundations underneath.
HSBC Launches Digital Training for Ultra-Wealthy Heirs
With trillions of dollars in global wealth poised to shift between generations, HSBC Private Bank is partnering with the MIT Sloan School of Management to launch the Future Family Leaders Digital Programme. The six-week course aims to equip heirs aged 23 to 30 with the governance skills required for succession.
Citigroup Wealth Division Profits Surge 93 Percent
Citigroup’s wealth division saw its net income soar 93 percent to $585 million in the third quarter of 2026, fueled by a 15 percent revenue jump to $3.3 billion. The performance highlights robust growth across the bank's core wealth units, driven primarily by favorable deposit spreads and increased investment fees.
Franklin Templeton and Schroders Expand Active ETF Offerings
California-based investment manager Franklin Templeton is set to list the Franklin Putnam Focused US Research UCITS ETF on the London Stock Exchange on October 15, 2026, while Schroders prepares to launch an AI-focused active ETF strategy in Taiwan to capture growth across the technology and semiconductor sectors.
Amundi Targets Asian Debt Markets with New ESG Bond Fund
Amundi, the European asset management arm of Crédit Agricole, has debuted the Asia Income ESG Bond fund to capture yield across the region’s maturing fixed income markets. The vehicle, which operates under Article 8 of the EU’s Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation, targets a diversified mix of sovereign and corporate debt.
The New Era of Legacy: Why Independence Trumps Inheritance
Wealthy families across Asia are fundamentally shifting their definition of legacy, prioritizing personal independence over traditional inheritance. With 82 per cent of individuals now viewing self-sufficiency as their primary goal, the financial services sector faces a growing disconnect between these evolving life aspirations and current, fragmented wealth planning strategies.
Ireland Plans Tax-Efficient Savings Scheme to Shift Cash Culture
Irish Minister of State for Finance Robert Troy has unveiled plans for a state-backed investment account, set for the 2027 budget, designed to move citizens away from traditional cash holdings. Modeled after the UK’s ISA, the initiative aims to bolster the country’s investment culture and secure its status as a financial hub.
Franklin Templeton and Schroders Expand Sustainable Fund Lineups
Investment giants Franklin Templeton and Schroders are bolstering their European portfolios with new sustainable offerings, signaling a strategic pivot toward green bonds and thematic equity strategies. The expansion arrives as asset managers race to meet rising institutional demand for products aligned with strict environmental disclosure standards.
Olivier Portenseigne Appointed Global Head of Transfer Agency at Apex
Global financial services provider Apex Group has tapped industry veteran Olivier Portenseigne to lead its transfer agency product strategy. Based in Luxembourg, Portenseigne will oversee the firm’s innovation agenda, focusing on the integration of digital assets and blockchain technology to streamline distribution between asset managers and their global investor base.
Standard Chartered Enables Direct Crypto Trading for UAE Wealth Clients
Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority has cleared Standard Chartered to offer spot trading for Bitcoin and Ether, marking the first time a global bank in the UAE has integrated direct cryptocurrency transactions into its retail wealth accounts for professional investors.
Deutsche Bank navigates wealth growth in Turkey, Israel and Greece
Serving high-net-worth individuals across the Balkans, Turkey, Greece, and Israel requires more than standardized financial products. Sofia Sool, head of private banking for Emerging Europe at Deutsche Bank, emphasizes that successful wealth management in these volatile, entrepreneur-driven markets demands a bespoke, country-specific strategy that integrates commercial and private banking capabilities.
Emissary Partners Expands Advisory Bench with Former CIA Analyst
London-based Emissary Partners has recruited four senior advisors to bolster its expertise in geopolitics, wealth management, and Asian investment. The firm, which specializes in advising family offices and sovereigns on cross-border legacy assets, aims to deepen its strategic reach across the UK, Europe, the Middle East, and the United States.
Recent Leadership Moves Across Wealth Management and Law Firms
The wealth management and legal sectors are seeing a fresh wave of talent shifts, with Carey Olsen, W1M Wealth Management, and Withers securing key appointments. From the Cayman Islands to London and Scotland, these moves signal a strategic focus on private wealth advisory, immigration law, and complex estate planning.
Matt Ralph Named CEO of Manchester Investment Firm Castlefield
Manchester-based investment specialist Castlefield has appointed Matt Ralph as its new chief executive officer, effective immediately. Ralph, who previously served as the firm’s head of client management, succeeds founder John Eckersley, who remains with the employee-owned company in the role of non-executive chair.
VP Bank Secures SFr130 Million in Senior Non-Preferred Bond Issue
Liechtenstein’s VP Bank has tapped capital markets for SFr130 million, finalizing a seven-year senior non-preferred bond issue. The transaction, which carries a 1.85 percent coupon and an A3 rating from Moody’s, underscores the institution’s push to bolster its loss-absorbing capital buffers while diversifying its funding sources.
Asia’s Life Insurers Pivot to Wealth Management
Life insurance firms across Asia are aggressively expanding their footprint in the wealth management sector, betting that affluent clients need more than simple protection. By integrating succession planning and liquidity tools into their core offerings, these companies are positioning themselves to capture a share of the region's multi-trillion-dollar intergenerational wealth transfer.
JP Morgan Reports Mixed Third Quarter Results
JP Morgan launched the US banking sector's quarterly reporting season with a 6 per cent year-on-year increase in net income to $15.3 billion. Despite this annual growth, the bank faced a 28 per cent profit decline compared to the second quarter, largely due to losses within its corporate segment.
WRISE CEO on Automating Wealth Management Administration
Removing the administrative burden saves time, and frees our advisors to focus on tasks requiring human judgment, establishment of relationships and complex planning, says Kevin Teng, CEO of WRISE Private Singapore. By embedding AI into daily workflows, the firm aims to shift advisor capacity toward high-value client interaction.
Edmond de Rothschild AM Sees Renewable Investment Focus at COP31
With the 31st UN Climate Change Conference approaching in Antalya, Jean-Philippe Desmartin of Edmond de Rothschild Asset Management anticipates a shift in focus. While diplomatic deadlocks over emissions reductions appear likely, the executive expects economic and geopolitical pressures to accelerate private sector investment in renewable energy and grid infrastructure.
UK Prime Minister Burnham Targets Non-Compete Agreements
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has signaled a government crackdown on non-compete clauses, framing the move as a necessary spark for national innovation. Drawing a parallel to the landmark 1995 Bosman ruling in football, Burnham argues that current employment restrictions stifle labor mobility and hinder the growth of the UK's technology sector.
European Investors Find Fresh Leverage in Japanese Boardrooms
London-based Zennor Asset Management argues that Japan’s corporate landscape is undergoing a fundamental shift, as European investors successfully press local boards to unlock stagnant cash and improve governance. This collaborative pressure is proving more effective than aggressive US-style activism, fostering a new environment where management and shareholders interests finally align.