| Register
Back to Blogs
Blog Img

Financial Services Monthly Market Update: September 2026

Continued investment and ambitious growth strategies are reshaping how firms compete in the wealth and financial planning market. 

For those able to scale, there is pressure to integrate effectively to protect client relationships and maintain service quality. For those who cannot, consolidation requires difficult decisions around succession, ownership and future direction. Both put new demands on people and successful execution depends on having the right talent and operating structure in place.That extends beyond the front office. ​

In this month’s update, we look at an increasingly concentrated market. Larger firms are acquiring for scale, while others are considering sale or exit. Those pursuing growth are forced to think harder about integration, flexible working and the talent needed to support sustainable growth.

​​

IDEX insight: what this month’s market activity means

Wealth firms continue to scale through acquisition, invest in leadership and rethink how their teams are structured. But growth is only valuable if the operating model behind it can keep pace.

Experienced administrators and client support professionals are increasingly important to adviser productivity, client service and sustainable growth. As firms add assets, clients and adviser headcount, the quality of the support function can determine whether growth creates capacity or simply creates more pressure.

This is particularly relevant when consolidation increases organisational complexity and experienced adviser talent remains difficult to secure. Strong operations can give advisers more time to focus on clients and new business, while helping firms maintain service standards as they grow.

To attract high-quality operational support, firms should offer clear progression, competitive flexibility and the opportunity to work with modern systems in a role that is recognised as central to the client and commercial proposition.

Read more in IDEX’s latest insight: Why Back-Office Talent Is Now a Competitive Advantage in Wealth Management Operations

  • Adviser capacity depends on operational capacity: When administration is stretched, advisers inevitably absorb work that could sit elsewhere. That reduces the time available for client meetings, referrals, relationship development and revenue-generating activity.

  • Growth increases the value of strong operations: Acquisitions, client growth, new propositions and platform changes all place additional pressure on the back office. Building operational capability alongside adviser capacity makes it easier to scale without service quality deteriorating.

  • The back-office skill profile is changing: As automation removes more routine activity, the strongest support professionals are increasingly defined by their human judgement and the ability to use technology effectively.

Question for leaders: As your business grows, are you investing in back-office capacity at the same pace as adviser, client and asset growth? Or are operational gaps already limiting how effectively your front-office talent can perform?

​

Financial Services market news ​​

This month’s Financial Services news points to a market balancing growth with structural change. Investment and consolidation are putting pressure on firms to align people strategy with commercial ambitions.

  • Wealth management isa two-speed market: An FCA study shows an industry simultaneously consolidating and pursuing growth. The ten largest firms serve 89% of clients, while 41% plan to acquire, increase revenue or grow their client base by more than 25% over the next two years. However, 18% are considering winding down or selling some or all of their client base.

    IDEX view: Growth businesses need leadership and client-facing capacity to absorb new clients and acquisitions, while firms considering an exit face questions around succession and continuity. As the market concentrates, access to experienced talent becomes key to whether growth strategies can actually be delivered.​

  • Brooks Macdonald shows what successful integration can deliver: Brooks Financial grew revenue by 10% y-o-y and now contributes around a quarter of group revenue, following the integration of LIFT-Financial, Lucas Fettes and CST. Client retention remained at 98%, while the firm signalled it is looking for further Financial Planning businesses to acquire.

    IDEX view:As consolidators continue to build, integration capability, adviser retention and the strength of the leadership team behind acquired businesses are important differentiators. For firms pursuing repeat M&A, the people strategy needs to keep pace with the deal strategy.​

  • Flexibility is part of the adviser employment proposition: Financial Planning Today’s 2026 survey found that only 28% of planners now work mainly from an office. One in five work entirely remotely, while 29% vary their location and working pattern from week to week – a sizeable increase from last year.

    IDEX view:In a market where qualified Financial Advisers and Paraplanners are already difficult to secure, flexible working arrangements increasingly affect the size of the talent pool. Firms need to understand what candidates value and be clear about why office presence is required.

​

Mergers and acquisitions

M&A activity this month shows wealth firms continuing to use acquisition as a route to scale, capability and regional expansion.

  • Shackleton moves from consolidation to national scale: The acquisition of Argentis creates a group with £17.5bn in AUM, more than 44,000 clients and 233 advisers and investment managers. The enlarged business spans 38 offices and more than 850 employees, with former Argentis CEO Andrew Westenberger joining Shackleton’s Executive Committee to support integration.​

  • Canaccord buying capability as well as £3.1bn of assets: Canaccord Wealth has agreed to acquire the client assets and front-office teams of EFG Harris Allday, a 77-person business managing approximately £3.1bn. Alongside expanding Canaccord’s Midlands presence, the transaction combines Harris Allday’s investment expertise and relationships with Canaccord’s wider Financial Planning capabilities.

  • 7IM puts adviser recruitment alongside acquisition in its growth plan: Lync Wealth’s purchase of two Belfast Financial Planning businesses adds £300m in assets under advice and takes its NI operation beyond £350m. Its ambition for £1bn+ of client assets in the region, will be achieved through a combination of organic growth, further acquisitions and adviser recruitment.

IDEX view:Wealth-sector M&A is increasingly about building platforms for growth, not simply adding assets. Acquirers bring together client relationships, adviser teams, new locations and operating infrastructure – making integration a people issue as much as a transaction issue. Firms that retain key advisers, strengthen leadership and build talent capacity will turn consolidation into sustainable revenue growth.

​

People moves and senior appointments​

Senior appointments this month reflect the leadership and adviser capability firms need to deliver on ambitious growth plans.

  • Perspective strengthens leadership infrastructure behind growth: Perspective Financial Group has appointed Iain McKenzie as COO alongside two new non-executive directors and strengthened regional leadership. McKenzie’s remit includes the people, technology, support functions and integration capability required to underpin continued expansion.

  • Standard Life backs internal progression ahead of its next phase: Emma Furlonger has been appointed Managing Director of Standard Life’s workplace and retail intermediary business after leading on an interim basis since April. The appointment comes in preparation for further scale through a planned Aegon UK acquisition and continued expansion in workplace pensions and retirement savings.​

  • Fidelius adds experienced adviser capacity to support expansion: Chartered Financial Planner James Martin has joined Fidelius after ten years with City Asset Management. His appointment follows further adviser recruitment across the business, as Fidelius continues an organic and acquisitive growth strategy backed by Söderberg & Partners.​

IDEX view:Growth is creating talent requirements at several levels of the wealth market. Consolidators need senior operators capable of building infrastructure and integrating businesses; large providers need leadership continuity through periods of change; and expanding advice firms still need experienced, client-facing advisers to turn strategy into revenue.

​

Monthly Financial Services Market Updates, Backed by Hiring Expertise.

Stay close to the Financial Services market with monthly updates covering wealth management news, financial planning trends, M&A activity, senior appointments, regulation, technology and IDEX insight. 

Subscribe to the monthly newsletter to understand not just what has happened, but what it could mean for growth, hiring, succession and market positioning.

The IDEX Salary Calculator gives Financial Services professionals access to market-specific compensation insight, helping them benchmark pay and make informed career decisions.

Check your salary is in line with market rates

Finding the right people does not need to slow your growth. IDEX uses deep market knowledge and established sector relationships to connect firms with skilled professionals who can support long-term performance.

Review your advice team capacity

​

Blog Img

Financial Services Monthly Market Update: September 2026

Back to Blogs

Continued investment and ambitious growth strategies are reshaping how firms compete in the wealth and financial planning market. 

For those able to scale, there is pressure to integrate effectively to protect client relationships and maintain service quality. For those who cannot, consolidation requires difficult decisions around succession, ownership and future direction. Both put new demands on people and successful execution depends on having the right talent and operating structure in place.That extends beyond the front office. ​

In this month’s update, we look at an increasingly concentrated market. Larger firms are acquiring for scale, while others are considering sale or exit. Those pursuing growth are forced to think harder about integration, flexible working and the talent needed to support sustainable growth.

​​

IDEX insight: what this month’s market activity means

Wealth firms continue to scale through acquisition, invest in leadership and rethink how their teams are structured. But growth is only valuable if the operating model behind it can keep pace.

Experienced administrators and client support professionals are increasingly important to adviser productivity, client service and sustainable growth. As firms add assets, clients and adviser headcount, the quality of the support function can determine whether growth creates capacity or simply creates more pressure.

This is particularly relevant when consolidation increases organisational complexity and experienced adviser talent remains difficult to secure. Strong operations can give advisers more time to focus on clients and new business, while helping firms maintain service standards as they grow.

To attract high-quality operational support, firms should offer clear progression, competitive flexibility and the opportunity to work with modern systems in a role that is recognised as central to the client and commercial proposition.

Read more in IDEX’s latest insight: Why Back-Office Talent Is Now a Competitive Advantage in Wealth Management Operations

  • Adviser capacity depends on operational capacity: When administration is stretched, advisers inevitably absorb work that could sit elsewhere. That reduces the time available for client meetings, referrals, relationship development and revenue-generating activity.

  • Growth increases the value of strong operations: Acquisitions, client growth, new propositions and platform changes all place additional pressure on the back office. Building operational capability alongside adviser capacity makes it easier to scale without service quality deteriorating.

  • The back-office skill profile is changing: As automation removes more routine activity, the strongest support professionals are increasingly defined by their human judgement and the ability to use technology effectively.

Question for leaders: As your business grows, are you investing in back-office capacity at the same pace as adviser, client and asset growth? Or are operational gaps already limiting how effectively your front-office talent can perform?

​

Financial Services market news ​​

This month’s Financial Services news points to a market balancing growth with structural change. Investment and consolidation are putting pressure on firms to align people strategy with commercial ambitions.

  • Wealth management isa two-speed market: An FCA study shows an industry simultaneously consolidating and pursuing growth. The ten largest firms serve 89% of clients, while 41% plan to acquire, increase revenue or grow their client base by more than 25% over the next two years. However, 18% are considering winding down or selling some or all of their client base.

    IDEX view: Growth businesses need leadership and client-facing capacity to absorb new clients and acquisitions, while firms considering an exit face questions around succession and continuity. As the market concentrates, access to experienced talent becomes key to whether growth strategies can actually be delivered.​

  • Brooks Macdonald shows what successful integration can deliver: Brooks Financial grew revenue by 10% y-o-y and now contributes around a quarter of group revenue, following the integration of LIFT-Financial, Lucas Fettes and CST. Client retention remained at 98%, while the firm signalled it is looking for further Financial Planning businesses to acquire.

    IDEX view:As consolidators continue to build, integration capability, adviser retention and the strength of the leadership team behind acquired businesses are important differentiators. For firms pursuing repeat M&A, the people strategy needs to keep pace with the deal strategy.​

  • Flexibility is part of the adviser employment proposition: Financial Planning Today’s 2026 survey found that only 28% of planners now work mainly from an office. One in five work entirely remotely, while 29% vary their location and working pattern from week to week – a sizeable increase from last year.

    IDEX view:In a market where qualified Financial Advisers and Paraplanners are already difficult to secure, flexible working arrangements increasingly affect the size of the talent pool. Firms need to understand what candidates value and be clear about why office presence is required.

​

Mergers and acquisitions

M&A activity this month shows wealth firms continuing to use acquisition as a route to scale, capability and regional expansion.

  • Shackleton moves from consolidation to national scale: The acquisition of Argentis creates a group with £17.5bn in AUM, more than 44,000 clients and 233 advisers and investment managers. The enlarged business spans 38 offices and more than 850 employees, with former Argentis CEO Andrew Westenberger joining Shackleton’s Executive Committee to support integration.​

  • Canaccord buying capability as well as £3.1bn of assets: Canaccord Wealth has agreed to acquire the client assets and front-office teams of EFG Harris Allday, a 77-person business managing approximately £3.1bn. Alongside expanding Canaccord’s Midlands presence, the transaction combines Harris Allday’s investment expertise and relationships with Canaccord’s wider Financial Planning capabilities.

  • 7IM puts adviser recruitment alongside acquisition in its growth plan: Lync Wealth’s purchase of two Belfast Financial Planning businesses adds £300m in assets under advice and takes its NI operation beyond £350m. Its ambition for £1bn+ of client assets in the region, will be achieved through a combination of organic growth, further acquisitions and adviser recruitment.

IDEX view:Wealth-sector M&A is increasingly about building platforms for growth, not simply adding assets. Acquirers bring together client relationships, adviser teams, new locations and operating infrastructure – making integration a people issue as much as a transaction issue. Firms that retain key advisers, strengthen leadership and build talent capacity will turn consolidation into sustainable revenue growth.

​

People moves and senior appointments​

Senior appointments this month reflect the leadership and adviser capability firms need to deliver on ambitious growth plans.

  • Perspective strengthens leadership infrastructure behind growth: Perspective Financial Group has appointed Iain McKenzie as COO alongside two new non-executive directors and strengthened regional leadership. McKenzie’s remit includes the people, technology, support functions and integration capability required to underpin continued expansion.

  • Standard Life backs internal progression ahead of its next phase: Emma Furlonger has been appointed Managing Director of Standard Life’s workplace and retail intermediary business after leading on an interim basis since April. The appointment comes in preparation for further scale through a planned Aegon UK acquisition and continued expansion in workplace pensions and retirement savings.​

  • Fidelius adds experienced adviser capacity to support expansion: Chartered Financial Planner James Martin has joined Fidelius after ten years with City Asset Management. His appointment follows further adviser recruitment across the business, as Fidelius continues an organic and acquisitive growth strategy backed by Söderberg & Partners.​

IDEX view:Growth is creating talent requirements at several levels of the wealth market. Consolidators need senior operators capable of building infrastructure and integrating businesses; large providers need leadership continuity through periods of change; and expanding advice firms still need experienced, client-facing advisers to turn strategy into revenue.

​

Monthly Financial Services Market Updates, Backed by Hiring Expertise.

Stay close to the Financial Services market with monthly updates covering wealth management news, financial planning trends, M&A activity, senior appointments, regulation, technology and IDEX insight. 

Subscribe to the monthly newsletter to understand not just what has happened, but what it could mean for growth, hiring, succession and market positioning.

The IDEX Salary Calculator gives Financial Services professionals access to market-specific compensation insight, helping them benchmark pay and make informed career decisions.

Check your salary is in line with market rates

Finding the right people does not need to slow your growth. IDEX uses deep market knowledge and established sector relationships to connect firms with skilled professionals who can support long-term performance.

Review your advice team capacity

​