2026 regulatory priories for investment management
ArticlePrivate markets drive asset management growth, but valuation governance decides credibility as regulators sharpen focus and weak frameworks risk trust and fees.
Regulation isn’t standing still — expectations are shifting.
In 2026, Financial Services firms aren’t facing a flood of new rules. Instead, regulators are asking tougher questions about outcomes. Consumer Duty, operational resilience, ESG and financial crime are all moving from documented intent to demonstrable effectiveness.
Technology and AI sit at the heart of this shift.
As data, AI, cyber and thirdparty risk become core governance issues, boards are expected to show genuine understanding and challenge — not just receive MI. Technology is no longer a side conversation to regulation; it’s central to credibility.
Against a backdrop of geopolitical and economic uncertainty, resilience matters more than ever.
Firms that succeed in 2026 will be those that can operate confidently through disruption — proving their frameworks work in practice, not just on paper.
In this video, Alex Ellerton explores the key themes shaping Financial Services in 2026 — and what firms must do differently to move from compliance to credibility.
Authors
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Alex Ellerton Alex Ellerton - I advise clients across the retail financial services sector on regulatory matters. With a particular focus on banking, lending, wealth management and retail intermediary firms, I regularly work with senior management teams to identify practical and proportionate responses to regulatory challenges.View Profile
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