The future of wealth advisers in the impact economy

Wealth advisers sit at a critical junction in the impact economy. They can be trusted intermediaries between capital and purpose, shaping how wealth is stewarded across generations. As the expectations of clients evolve, so too must the role of professional advice.  

One of the strongest messages from Beacon Philanthropy and Impact 2025 Forum was that advisers who fail to engage seriously with impact and philanthropy risk becoming increasingly out of step with the people they serve. 

Recent research has shown 98% of HNW individuals give philanthropically and they increasingly expect their advisers to guide them- The Modern Philanthropist, Barclays Private Bank. For many clients, wealth is not just about accumulation, but about contribution and they are looking to advisers to help them navigate that journey with confidence. 

Across the 2025 Forum, participants reflected this shift in client demand. Women and younger generations in particular, are no longer satisfied with advice focused solely on financial performance. They expect conversations that encompass values, social impact and long-term societal outcomes alongside returns.  

It is now essential for wealth advisers to be ready to lead informed conversations across philanthropy, investment and responsible business. 

A need for more training, learning and room to explore 

Yet despite this rising demand, many advisers feel ill-equipped to respond.  

Last year’s Forum discussions highlighted persistent gaps in confidence and training. Advisers worry about getting it wrong, overstepping personal boundaries, or lacking credible products and data to support client decisions.  

Advisers at the event also highlighted that there are no requirements for wealth management businesses to offer impact-oriented advice, and little incentive to do so. Impact investing and philanthropic advice are still too often treated as niche or “optional extras”, rather than core components of holistic wealth management. For advisers, time spent on values-led conversations is simply not rewarded. 

Encouragingly, we also surfaced a range of emerging models that point to a different future. Some firms are moving towards a holistic impact model, integrating impact investing and philanthropy into their financial planning approach. Others are experimenting with client networks and giving circles that enable clients with similar interests to learn, to share knowledge and even to give together. This approach normalises giving and impact as part of a wealth stewardship relationship with the firm. 

At a theoretical level, advisers at the Beacon Forum in 2025 also discussed how advances in technology, including AI-driven tools, could open up possibilities for more personalised portfolios that align financial goals with individual impact preferences at scale. 

If these innovations are to become the norm rather than the exception, deliberate action is needed. A consistent recommendation from the 2025 Forum was the need to invest in adviser capability. Training can help advisers to become more aware of how clients are embedding impact into their business, personal and professional lives; how the impact economy is growing and evolving to support these actions; and their role supporting clients to structure their financial resources in alignment with their impact goals.  

Incentives should recognise the role of impact in building long-term relationships with clients. Advisers who value and support the impact activity of their clients, rather than focusing narrowly on short-term financial performance, are more likely to build deeper relationships. This should be reflected in incentive structures. 

Moving forward at the next Forum 

At the Beacon Forum in 2026, we will pick up on these themes with several practical sessions specifically for advisers: 

•  How are client behaviours changing?  
• When and how should advisers engage? 
• What structures are available? 
• What are the opportunities linked to changes in the pension and inheritance tax regime? 
• How can impact strategies be brought into traditional portfolios? 
• How are impact asset classes evolving to support diversified portfolios? 
• And, what is changing at a policy level that could shape the future of the impact offering? 

 These themes will be set in the wider context of what is driving growth in the impact economy, both national and globally. Government policy is changing, bringing new opportunities for impact capital to reach across the UK. Cross-border flows of capital are increasing in response to global instability, with the UK becoming a hub for international impact.  

Sessions are accredited for CPD (6 hours) and through our keynote addresses, workshops and roundtable discussions, participants will meet a cross section of family wealth holders, change makers, leaders, organisations and policy makers who are shaping the future of the impact economy.