The European wealth management industry stands at a pivotal moment. A powerful combination of factors –generational change, rapid technological advancement, increased regulatory pressure, and rising client expectations – is reshaping the landscape. Wealth is flowing into the hands of younger, more digitally native investors who expect seamless, personalised, and technology-driven experiences.
As banks and advisers look to remain relevant in this new era, the need for a scalable, modular, and turnkey approach to wealth management – one that transcends borders – has never been greater.
The great wealth transfer: a new breed of client
Arguably the most powerful force reshaping European wealth management today is the great generational wealth transfer. According to Wealth-X, an estimated US$18.3 trillion will be inherited globally by 2030, with US$3.5 trillion of that set to change hands in Europe alone. This unprecedented shift is seeing vast amounts of wealth move from baby boomers to millennials and Gen Z – generations raised in a world defined by smartphones, social media, and seamless digital experiences.
This next generation of wealth holders is fundamentally different from their predecessors. Tech-savvy, globally mobile, and less loyal to traditional financial institutions, they bring new expectations to the table. Accustomed to the frictionless service of travel and shopping apps, they demand the same from their wealth management providers. Convenience, user experience, and 24/7 access to services matter more than brand legacy or long-standing personal relationships. For them, managing wealth should be as intuitive and accessible as managing any other aspect of their digital lives.
At the same time, the lack of adequate estate planning among many wealth holders threatens to undermine the efficiency of this transition. Poor planning can lead to avoidable tax burdens, family conflicts, and suboptimal wealth structures. As awareness of these risks grows, so too does the demand for professional financial advice, particularly among investors and business owners seeking to navigate the complexities of succession and cross-border wealth management.
Adding to this complexity is the increasingly global nature of the new wealth clientele. Many live in one country, work in another, and invest across multiple jurisdictions. They expect their banks and advisers to offer a seamless, borderless experience – mirroring the way they live and operate. Meeting these expectations will require wealth managers to rethink not only their digital offerings but their entire approach to client engagement in the decade ahead.
The evolving role of the modern adviser
This generational shift is redefining the role of the adviser. No longer is it sufficient to simply hand over a neatly printed PDF or schedule an annual review. Today’s clients ask more questions, more frequently, and through more channels – whether it's WhatsApp, video calls, e-mails, or mobile apps. Client engagement is now 24/7, multi-channel, and continuous.
Yet, paradoxically, the number of advisers is shrinking across the industry. The challenge, then, is not just managing increased demand – it’s doing more with less. Advisers must be equipped to be significantly more productive, responsive, and informed.
This means providing them with tools that automate administrative tasks, deliver proactive insights, and support more strategic conversations with clients. Time-to-productivity for new advisers must also be shortened. Increasingly, advisers choose employers based on the digital tools they’ll have at their disposal.
Regulation vs. personalisation: finding the balance
Meanwhile, regulatory scrutiny across Europe continues to intensify. From MiFID II to GDPR, compliance frameworks have led to greater standardisation in processes, documentation, and reporting.
But this stands in contrast to client expectations. Investors want tailored advice, bespoke financial planning, and real-time insights across every stage of their financial journey – from buying a home, to funding a start-up, to planning for retirement.
Today’s adviser is asked for advice on more topics, through more channels, more often – and in a way that is both compliant and customised. The balancing act is delicate but essential.
The competitive pressure from online brokerages (neo, mobile, or digital banks)
Adding further pressure is the rise of online brokerages and FinTech platforms. With sleek apps, zero-commission trades, and AI-driven investment advice, these digital challengers are capturing a growing share of wallet from younger investors.
Banks may currently benefit from interest-driven profitability, but to stay competitive, they must adapt their wealth offerings. It’s not enough to digitise existing processes. They must reimagine the advisory experience entirely – making it more intelligent, more responsive, and deeply integrated with client lifestyles.
Technology as a differentiator: what banks and advisers need now
As the wealth management arms race heats up, technology becomes the differentiator. But not just any technology will do.
Advisers and banks alike are demanding solutions that are:
- Turnkey – ready to deploy with minimal disruption
- Modular – adaptable to unique workflows and evolving client needs
- Scalable – able to support clients across multiple geographies and business lines
Banks with international ambitions need technology partners that can work across jurisdictions, align with local regulations, and integrate seamlessly with their existing infrastructure. Advisers, on the other hand, want intuitive platforms that boost their efficiency and allow them to deliver more value-added services in less time.
European advantage: built for borderless wealth
This is precisely where fincite comes in. Unlike legacy portfolio management platforms that may dominate in some markets, fincite was built from the ground up with a European, cross-border audience in mind. Our modular, digital wealth solution is designed to meet the complex, evolving needs of advisers and banks alike.
Fincite enables:
- Rapid scalability across countries and languages
- Agile customisation to fit local preferences and regulations
- A full suite of advisory and portfolio tools out-of-the-box
For banks, it reduces implementation risk and accelerates time-to-revenue. For advisers, it improves productivity and deepens client engagement. The result? A seamless, strategic advisory experience that works across borders – digital, compliant, and deeply human.
|
Metric |
Today |
2030 Target |
Growth |
How fincite Enables This |
|
Adviser Meetings per Day |
0.6–0.8 |
2–3 |
3–5x |
Automated prep, proactive alerts, smart agendas |
|
Customer |
4–5 |
30+ |
6–7x |
Dashboards, financial planning, digital access |
|
Adviser AuM |
50–200M |
500M–1B |
5–10x |
Efficiency gains, reduced workload |
Quantifying the impact: from meetings to millions!
Let’s look at the numbers. Fincite’s platform is designed to transform adviser productivity and client engagement at scale. Consider the following projections:
These gains translate into real-world impact:
- Happier clients with more frequent, relevant interactions
- Advisers who serve more clients with less administrative burden
- Banks that drive retention, reduce adviser turnover, and improve profitability by 40% or more
Specifically, wealth advisers using the fincite platform have seen:
- Growth in AUV (assets under view) by a third, leading to a 20 percent increase in share of wallet
- Increased compliance by elimination of over 80 percent of investment restriction violations across all advisory processes
- A reduction of 12 weeks per year in time spent on manual effort, freeing up time for high-value client interactions
The future of hybrid wealth advice
Despite the digital revolution, the human element in wealth advice isn’t going anywhere. What’s changing is the nature of adviser-client interactions.
Technology will increasingly handle the transactional and operational aspects – portfolio rebalancing, performance tracking, reporting – freeing advisers to focus on strategic discussions, life planning, and personalised insights.
Whether it's a dashboard login or a virtual meeting, every touchpoint must enrich the client experience. That means delivering not just data, but actionable intelligence. Not just service, but connection.
This is the future of hybrid wealth advice – where digital and human strengths combine to deliver superior outcomes.
Conclusion: a frictionless, scalable future for European wealth management
As wealth becomes more global, more digital, and more demanding, the tools and strategies of the past will no longer suffice. Banks and advisers must adapt – not just to survive, but to thrive.
The winners will be those who embrace modular, turnkey platforms that enable scalable, compliant, and truly client-centric advisory models across borders. Fincite stands ready to be that partner.
Interested in reading the European WealthTech Landscape Report 2025? You can read the report online here.
About The European Wealth Landscape Report 2025
The European WealthTech Landscape Report 2025 is a new WealthTech Landscape Report from The Wealth Mosaic, focused on the wealth management sector in Europe.
With the rapid pace of change in financial services, understanding technology's impact on this sector is more crucial than ever. This Europe-focused Landscape Report features a series of insightful articles that explore the trends, challenges, and innovations surrounding technology adoption in wealth management. Contributions come from a range of organisations, including AWS, Croesus, Deloitte, ERI, EY, Fincite, Finfox, First Rate, Infront, Intellect Design Arena, Moneyfarm, Raise Partner and WealthOS.
The articles you will find within the report provide valuable perspectives on how technology is transforming the wealth management industry. They discuss various aspects of technology adoption, from the latest innovations to how firms can leverage technology to enhance client engagement, streamline operations, and comply with regulatory demands.
We trust you find this report invaluable to your business needs and supportive of your understanding of the fast-moving technology marketplace surrounding the European wealth management market.
Click here for more information.
About The WealthTech Landscape Report Series
Our goal with our WealthTech Landscape Reports (WTLRs) is to collate relevant, insightful content and comments from both wealth managers and vendors operating in a specific region. Each WTLR is founded on a curated directory of hundreds of relevant technology and related solution providers to the business needs of the wealth management community in focus. The directory is supported by a rich variety of thought leadership articles and interviews with industry participants from both buy and sell side, plus a section of Solution Showcases. We also look at country, regional, and sectoral trends.
If you are interested in contributing to our editorial projects, don't hesitate to get in touch.
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