According to the 2026 Natixis Investment Managers survey, the shift toward automation is no longer a distant threat but an immediate strategic pivot. Among 2,950 surveyed professionals, 43% expect self-directed digital platforms to become their primary competition within five years, a stark departure from the current reliance on competing with other human advisers. Even as firms pressure staff to integrate AI for tasks like summarizing market commentary and managing client communication, 68% of respondents admit that embedding these technologies into existing workflows has proven more difficult than anticipated.

Beyond the technological disruption, advisers face a demographic squeeze. With younger investors increasingly trusting algorithms over in-person consultations, firms are struggling to bridge the gap between ageing client bases and a retiring workforce. While 77% of advisers view the upcoming wave of industry retirements as a prime opportunity to expand their books, the reality is a persistent bottleneck in succession planning. As Darren Pilbeam, head of UK sales at Natixis IM, noted, the long-term success of the profession now hinges on an ability to demonstrate value that transcends basic asset allocation, particularly as emotional investing—driven by headline-chasing—remains the most common pitfall for modern clients.