Portfolio Construction Trends and Allocator Dynamics in the U.K.

Benjamin Reed-Hurwitz, CFA®, Head of Research Development, breaks down the key investment fund trends that defined 2025 and what’s likely to carry into 2026. He also explores product innovation, fee and pricing pressures, the growing role of partnerships in distribution, and what the year ahead may look like for asset managers navigating a rapidly evolving landscape.

Marc Barrachin, CFA, and Adam Feldstein of ISS Market Intelligence weigh in on 2025’s defining investment product trends and advisor shifts, highlighting emerging opportunities and what managers should watch as the industry positions for 2026.

Benjamin Reed-Hurwitz of ISS Market Intelligence explores how portfolio construction is evolving across the U.K. market; breaking down key trends in MPS, unitized multi-asset, and adviser-managed portfolios. Additionally, he highlights what fund managers should watch as allocator dynamics shift toward 2026.

Delivering some of the key perceived advantages of the ETF structure combined with active management, active ETFs are quickly emerging as a compelling option – with actively managed U.S. ETF assets surpassing $1 trillion for the first time earlier this year.Passive strategy adoption, particularly via ETFs, transformed the industry and forced asset managers to adapt. In response, many have lowered fees on existing fund products and have launched a variety of new product wrappers, models, and packaged solutions to compete with or complement this trend toward low-cost index solutions. With many financial advisors operating on a fee base and armed with more access to technology and platforms, they are joining the push towards less costly funds, as well.Ignites hosted a webcast on "What Active ETF Adoption Means for Sales and Product Strategy," sponsored by ISS Market Intelligence.During this 45-minute discussion, panelists of industry experts shared insights into the dynamics shaping active ETF adoption and discussed how asset managers can position themselves for success in this rapidly changing environment. As advisors demonstrate a growing appetite for vehicles that combine active decision-making with the structural benefits of ETFs, this was an important discussion for asset managers who are reevaluating how they position and distribute active strategies. Ben Doob, Head of ISS MI, served as a key panelist in driving this conversation forward.

The battle for investors and their wallets on the wealth management frontlines is on. Advisors are facing several headwinds.The inexorable progression of the baby boomer generation—the industry’s growth engine for the past four decades—into retirement spells slower new inflows and accelerating outflows out of retirement nest-eggs. Meanwhile, the newly minted investors in the millennial and Gen Z cohorts are opting to enter the investing arena through self-directed brokerage platforms.ISS Market Intelligence deployed a number of surveys to help identify and quantify exactly what advisors are doing, and what they are planning to do. The surveys, each completed by more than 800 advisors, asked about their preferred investment vehicles, portfolio construction strategies, alternatives and the use of personalization tools, such as direct indexing or SMA/UMA programs.Ignites hosted “What Do Advisors Want In 2025?” sponsored by ISS Market Intelligence. During this webcast, panelists discussed what the findings of these surveys tell us about how asset managers can support advisors in growing their businesses. Panelists offered their perspective on the main themes of asset and wealth management business in 2025 and how to best leverage them to drive growth. Ben Doob, Head of ISS Market Intelligence, served as a key panelist in driving this webcast discussion forward.

Ben Doob, Global Head of ISS Market Intelligence, sits down with Asset TV to discuss how global asset and wealth management firms, insurance companies, and other market participants leverage ISS MI's connected ecosystem of data, research, media, and go-to-market services to drive growth.

As we approach the release of the next—2025—edition of The Household Balance Sheet Report in Canada, we take a deeper look at state of the union of Canadian household wealth. Carlos Cardone, Managing Director for ISS Market Intelligence Canada team, joins Goshka Folda, Head of ISS Research, to help her unpack household financial behavior over the past several years. From the feast of the vast savings buoying inflows into investment funds and deposits of the pandemic years to the more recent inflow famine on the investment side, the podcast explains key factors driving household financial product choices. And since no country is an island, household behaviors observed in Canada are relevant to listeners around the world as we observe similar patterns reverberate around the globe.

Join Christopher Davis, Head of U.S. Fund Research, and Benjamin Reed-Hurwitz, Head of EMEA Research at ISS MI, as they unpack the findings of the Global Whitepaper: Growing Revenues, Not Assets, New Name of the Game. Uncover why seeking growth at the right price is essential, how active managers are adapting, and what the future holds for index funds and ETFs in the U.S. and U.K.The full report is available now in the newly launched MarketSage research platform, a key addition to ISS MI’s suite of solutions designed to provide unparalleled access to surveys, insights, and unbiased research that empowers financial services professionals to make informed decisions and stay ahead of market trends.

In this episode, Benjamin Reed-Hurwitz, Associate Director of EMEA Research at ISS MI, leads a conversation with Goshka Folda, Global Head of Research at ISS MI, diving into the latest Household Balance Sheet (HBS) Report. Ben and Goshka dissect the evolving power dynamics, growth avenues, specialized strategies, and overarching trends, which, while focused on the Canadian wealth management landscape, provide transferable insights applicable to other geographies.Subscribe to MI Talk, the podcast brought to you by ISS Market Intelligence, for monthly episodes featuring in-depth discussions with thought leaders on timely and relevant topics in the asset and wealth management industries.For a deeper dive into the insights and analysis behind ISS Mi's Household Balance Sheet, visit https://page.issmarketintelligence.com/household-balance-sheet

In this episode, host Goshka Folda, Global Head of Research at ISS Market Intelligence, invites Dennis Gallant, Associate Director at ISS MI, to unravel the evolution of the RIA market. From newfound independence pathways to the ascent of professional buyers and expanded services, they delve into the impact on managing client assets, the growth of Enterprise RIAs, and the intricate dynamics of asset management support. Subscribe to MI Talk, the podcast brought to you by ISS Market Intelligence, for monthly episodes featuring in-depth discussions with thought leaders on timely and relevant topics in the asset and wealth management industries.For a deeper dive into Dennis's insights and comprehensive analysis, don't miss ISS MI's latest report: "RIA Market Insights: Refining the Opportunity." Access the full report here: https://page.issmarketintelligence.com/mi-us-research-ria-market-insights