Lions and tigers and bears – oh my! The headlines never stop: the geopolitical landscape, regulatory overhauls, tech integrations, too many meetings, too little client time, and the ever-present demand to outperform the market.
Noise.
More noise.
And louder noise.
But behind the noise lies opportunity – especially for large Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs), those managing north of US$5 billion in assets. This is the moment to lean in, to lead, and to grow stronger. As the RIAs rock on, here’s some hit titles that break down the why:
Investors: a seller’s market – “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” – the Rolling Stones
What was once a niche market has become the market hot spot. Investor demand for independence and transparency is surging – and forward thinking, professionally managed firms are commanding premium valuations. It’s a seller’s market, plain and simple.
Unfortunately, the US government shutdown of autumn 2025 created challenges surrounding the necessary regulatory reviews. Although the conversations did not slow down, the regulatory review process shut down… temporarily. Look for an uptick in M&A activity in the later part of 2026.
Markets at all-time highs – “Don’t Stop Me Now” – Queen
With US financial markets soaring, advisors are moving beyond cookie-cutter models. The best are crafting bespoke portfolios using complex asset types that reflect each investor’s unique goals – not just the next packaged product. Custom portfolios capitalizing on the market high are surging.
The advisor shortage = a talent opportunity – “It’s Raining Men” (and Women)” – The Weather Girls
Yes, there’s a shortage of advisors – but there’s also an abundance of professional talent.
Today’s professionals bring experience not only from wealth management but also from technology, consulting, and entrepreneurial spaces.
There’s no better time to expand your team. Seek those that bring a unique skillset to complement the domain expertise that already exists.
Ready to dive into the report? You can read and download the report online here.
From fee compression to fee expansion – "More and More” – Captain Hollywood Project
The robo-advisor era pushed fees down. The next era pushes value up. Way, way up. By expanding into tax, estate, and legacy planning, RIAs can justify higher fees, deepen relationships, and truly deliver holistic wealth management. While investment managers will seek alpha rapidly, the wealth managers are playing the long game and providing services both in-house and in partnership, satisfying the needs of the family today and laying the foundation for generational wealth.
The rise of the ‘cool kids’ – “Rock ‘n’ Roll High School” – The Ramones
The migration continues – advisors leaving wirehouses, bank models, and independent broker dealers for independence. Independent and hybrid RIAs now lead in advisor headcount growth. The RIAs were once the outcasts, the ‘wannabes’. Now they’re seated at the cool kids’ table.
Financial literacy is power – “Another Brick In The Wall” – Pink Floyd
The next generation of investors is the most informed in history. They understand fiduciary duty, transparency, and alignment – and they expect it. The RIA model isn’t just validated; it’s celebrated! The traditional ‘recommend and trust blindly’ model is over. Investors today are curious. Access to information in real time has never been greater. Investors want to feel as though they are the priority, and their financial advisor is leveraging all the information available to make the best decisions.
Technology built for RIAs – “I Wanna Talk About Me” – Toby Keith
Technology is leading with the RIA community, not following behind it. Tools are built for integration, scale, and client experience – not for legacy systems. No longer do the RIAs feel like the squarest block being squeezed into the roundest hole.
Real-time integration is not a vision or a dream – it’s a real possibility. The Unified Managed Household (UMH) exists, as does the personalization at the account level underneath.
Lifestyle: purpose meets profit – “Beautiful Day” – U2
Helping clients retire with dignity. Supporting charitable goals. Creating financial freedom. The RIA profession remains one of the most rewarding – financially, personally, and socially. The days of Gordon Gekko are over. Now, a more dignified profession is focused on helping individuals and their broader families pursue financial happiness.
Community and connection – “We Are Family” – Sister Sledge
We’re no longer the outsiders! The RIA ecosystem is rich with conferences, think tanks, and collaboration. Ideas are shared, innovation is celebrated, and the movement is stronger than ever. Although there are certainly flourishing ‘mom-and-pop’ RIAs, there is now a community where RIAs are no longer fighting for their slice of the pie, but uniting to make the pie larger.
The future is blindingly bright – “I Wear My Sunglasses At Night” – Corey Hart
This isn’t a fad. Independence is the foundation of what’s next in wealth management. The firms that lean in now will define the next decade – and it’s the RIAs that are leading the advancement of our industry
“This is the time... but time is gonna change.” – Billy Joel
The RIA segment of the market are the ones driving and, more, leading that change.
Interested in reading the US RIA Toolkit 2026? You can read and download the report online here.
About the US RIA Toolkit 2026
The US RIA Toolkit 2026 describes an era of transformation for the RIA ecosystem. Rapid growth, accelerating consolidation, and rising client expectations are converging with advances in technology and artificial intelligence (AI) to reshape how RIAs compete, scale, and serve clients. This report is intended to help RIAs and those serving the segment to navigate this transformation. It highlights real-world technology solutions, implementation strategies, and resources designed specifically for RIAs operating in an increasingly complex environment.
With RIA assets under management at historic highs, private equity activity accelerating, and a growing number of advisors making the jump to the RIA segment every year, competitive differentiation has never been more important. From digital client experience and automation, to AI-driven personalization and cybersecurity, this report explores the tools that can materially improve efficiency, growth, and client satisfaction.
Our broader Toolkit Report Series covers thematic, geography and wealth manager segment-focused reports, each tasked with delving into the topics and supporting technologies of relevance to help wealth managers of all types better understand how they should bring technology into their business and in which areas.
About The Wealth Mosaic
The Wealth Mosaic is a UK-headquartered online solution provider directory and knowledge resource, focused specifically on the wealth management industry.
For wealth managers, the buy side of our marketplace, The Wealth Mosaic is designed to enable discovery of key solutions, solution providers and knowledge resources by specific business needs.
For solution providers and vendors, the sell side of our marketplace, The Wealth Mosaic exists to support the positioning, exposure and business development needs of these firms in a more complex and demanding market.
For more information, visit: www.thewealthmosaic.com
Discover our latest reports!
- Future View Toolkit 2025 – read here
- UK Toolkit 2025 – read here
- European WealthTech Landscape Report 2025 – read here
- AI Toolkit 2025 – read here
- Client Experience Toolkit 2024 – read here
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