What kind of growth are financial advice firms creating?

Advice firms still want to grow. They want more clients, more assets from existing clients and, in many cases, more staff. But this year’s Financial Advice Business Benchmarks suggests growth is becoming a more complicated question.

Almost half of advisers say they are personally serving more actively advised client relationships than they were a year ago. At the same time, firms are reviewing cost to serve, reshaping client books, changing propositions and investing in technology and operational efficiency.

So if more clients are being served, where is the extra capacity coming from?

FABB 2026 explores how advice firms are trying to create a sustainable match between client need, adviser capacity and the economics of service.

The report brings together the latest NextWealth benchmark survey of UK financial advice professionals with insights from qualitative research conducted across 11 NextWealth projects over the past year.

Want to receive Financial Advice Business Benchmarks 2026 when it’s published? Simply complete the pre-registration form to your right and we’ll send you the report as soon as it’s available.

FAQs:

1. How are financial advice firms planning to grow in 2026?
Financial advice firms are looking at growth in several ways, including serving more actively advised clients, increasing assets from existing clients, recruiting additional staff and improving operational efficiency. The FABB 2026 research explores how firms are balancing growth with adviser capacity, client needs and the economics of service.

2. How are financial advisers managing increasing client demand?
As more advisers serve larger client books, firms are looking for ways to create additional capacity. This includes reviewing client books and cost to serve, expanding support teams, improving processes, investing in technology and exploring how AI can support advice firm operations.

3. What role will AI and technology play in the growth of financial advice firms?
AI and technology are increasingly being considered as ways to improve operational efficiency and create adviser capacity. Financial advice firms are exploring how technology, process improvement, platforms and AI can reduce administrative demands and help firms support more clients sustainably.

4. Are financial advice firms changing their client and service models?
Yes. Many firms are reviewing which clients they serve, the cost of servicing different client groups and how ongoing advice is delivered. FABB 2026 examines changes to client books, propositions and service models, alongside the impact of increasing client complexity on the work involved in providing advice.