The Week in Brief – 13 July to 17 July
Money Marketing’s must-reads: Top 10 stories of the week
An accelerated shift in state retirement planning, alongside sweeping tax overhauls, dominates the wealth management headlines this week, forcing advisers to rethink long-term wealth preservation.
The industry faces immediate strategic hurdles as the Treasury confirms the state pension age will rise to 68 by 2039, while imminent inheritance tax reforms trigger a seismic shift in client planning conversations.
Here is your essential round-up of the past seven days’ most significant industry developments:
Treasury confirms accelerated state pension age rise to 68 by 2039
The Treasury has confirmed plans to accelerate the state pension age rise to 68 by 2039, leaving older workers waiting longer to retire.
This timeline, brought forward from the 2040s, aims to curb ballooning public costs as life expectancies rise.
Experts warn this could spark fresh uncertainty for savers in their fifties, highlighting the urgent need for individuals to build private pension pots rather than relying on state funding.
IHT reforms triggering ‘seismic shift’ in advice conversations
Changes bringing unused pensions into inheritance tax from April 2027 are already reshaping adviser-client discussions, according to NextWealth and Quilter.
Advisers face heavier workloads, emotional client reactions, delayed decisions and greater compliance risk as estate plans are revisited. More meetings are often needed to explain tax implications, document decisions and involve beneficiaries.
The research warns that inaction could narrow planning options and increase complaints, while also creating an opportunity for advisers to demonstrate the value of joined-up, intergenerational financial planning.
Behind the Headlines: Will the big three platforms continue to dominate?
The UK’s ‘big three’ investment platforms Aviva, Quilter and Transact continue to dominate the market, leaving smaller rivals running out of road.
Bolstered by integrated onshore bonds perfect for upcoming tax planning, these giants seem unstoppable. However, industry experts warn that raw scale alone cannot guarantee long-term victory.
The next platform battleground shifts rapidly toward open finance, seamless software integrations and whoever can serve up the cleanest, most useful data.
FCA proposes rulebook reform to cut costs for advice firms
The FCA has proposed a sweeping rulebook reform to slash red tape for asset managers, promising to save the sector an impressive £128m annually.
By modernising decade-old rules and significantly raising the threshold for smaller firms, the regulator aims to cut costly duplication.
Markets executive director Simon Walls highlights this as a smart, highly proportionate approach to data collection, giving boutique managers more freedom to thrive while maintaining robust consumer safeguards.
Women’s average wealth falls £34k as UK gender gap widens
The UK gender wealth gap has reached a record high as women’s average financial assets plunged by £34,000 while men’s wealth continued to grow.
Handelsbanken’s latest survey reveals this widening divide stems from investment confidence rather than earnings alone. Women remain far less likely to manage household pensions.
Wealth boss Stephen Cowling urges much earlier financial engagement to help female savers confidently take control of their long term wealth planning decisions.
ammonite AI launches off-the-shelf AI templates for advisers
Tech company ammonite AI has launched a new library of instant AI templates, helping busy financial advisers automate report writing without losing their unique house style.
Available through its Planbot platform, these customisable workflows speed up creating recommendation reports and annual reviews.
Chief executive Caroline Duff says the tools give firms complete control over their compliance and wording, demonstrating that technology should adapt to advisers rather than vice versa.
Active ETF assets near €110bn as investor demand accelerates
Europe’s active ETF market has gone mainstream at remarkable speed as total assets surge to nearly €110bn, almost tripling since late 2023.
Morningstar reveals these funds scooped up €18.8bn in fresh inflows during the first half of 2026. While stock strategies still dominate, active bond managers quickly gained ground.
Although JP Morgan still rules the playground, intensifying competition from ambitious new rivals proves the massive boom is accelerating.
TISA calls for auto-enrolment contributions to rise to 12%
Trade body TISA has urged the Pensions Commission to hike minimum auto-enrolment contributions to 12% over six years, warning that current rates leave savers short.
Pointing out that simply getting people enrolled is no longer enough, TISA’s Renny Biggins calls for a more flexible, inclusive framework that embraces self-employed workers and low earners.
The group stresses that future retirement reforms must align with emerging AI technology rather than adding complex, fragmented rules.
Dan Wiltshire: Why do some advisers fail?
Financial planner Dan Wiltshire explores why promising new advisers fail, pointing to an obsession with hunting down clients rather than naturally attracting them.
Stalking prospects at networking events creates awkward pitch dynamics, whereas patient ‘fishing’ via a solid website and reputation brings in warm, self-identified leads.
Wiltshire urges beginners to build long-term infrastructure, cultivate resilience and give themselves at least two years for essential lucky breaks to land.
Brian Byrnes: The UK’s retirement savings gap is an advice challenge
The UK faces deeply interconnected gaps in homeownership, pension savings and financial advice.
Moneybox personal finance director Brian Byrnes argues that the current retirement crisis is essentially an advice problem. While complex decisions are increasingly offloaded onto individuals, a staggering 79% of savers never review their pension investments.
Fortunately, Byrnes believes AI-driven financial guidance holds the key to delivering safe, personalised and highly scalable advice to millions.
