How wealth firms are rethinking the foundations of their proposition
The wealth management sector is evolving. From established DFMs to digital challengers, firms are reassessing the technology, services and partners behind their proposition.
This isn’t just about launching new platforms. It’s about reshaping how firms operate, scale, and adapt to regulation and rising client expectations. While modern technology plays a central role, it’s not the whole answer.
To build something that truly fits your business model, you need more than tech alone. You need the right blend of capabilities — and the flexibility to choose how they come together.
Adapting to shifting market dynamics
Firms are operating in a more demanding environment — both commercially and operationally.
- Platform economics are shifting. NextWealth predicts a fall in average platform fees from 29.2bps to around 15bps within five years, putting pressure on traditional models.
- In-housing is on the rise. Larger advice firms and consolidators are exploring platform ownership or insourced infrastructure to improve margins and control.
- Regulatory pressure is increasing, particularly around retirement, drawdown, and fair value — with Consumer Duty raising expectations around client outcomes.
- Client expectations are evolving. From personalised digital experiences to transparent reporting, today’s investors expect more from the platforms they use.
All of this is driving firms to rethink how their propositions are built — and what sits behind them.
What this means for today’s wealth firms
While the pressures may be similar, the implications look different for each firm. But across the market, we see a common thread: firms want greater control, more flexibility, and fewer constraints.
- Wealth managers and DFMs are looking for operational resilience and regulatory support, without compromising on brand or client experience.
- Large advice firms and consolidators are seeking infrastructure that lets them run their own platform without taking on the complexity of building or managing it themselves.
- Digital challengers need to get to market quickly with clean technology, modern APIs, and pension wrapper support — without being bogged down in operational overhead.
What unites them is the need for configurable services and scalable architecture that supports growth — without locking them into rigid models.
Advanced tech matters — but it’s not enough
There’s growing recognition that the next generation of platforms must be cloud-native, API-first, and designed to evolve — not just now, but years into the future.
But while future-ready tech is vital, it only delivers value when paired with the right support. Many firms underestimate the importance of:
- Deep pensions and wrapper expertise
- Regulatory compliance and oversight
- Efficient, reliable operational delivery behind the scenes
At Quai Digital, we believe it’s the combination of advanced cloud-native technology and deep operational experience that enables firms to build propositions that last.
What to look for in a future-fit wealth services partner
Not all platform infrastructure is created equal. Here are six things to look for when evaluating a partner:
- Cloud-native technology
Built for speed, scale and regular releases — no legacy tech holding you back. - API-first architecture
Seamless integration with your existing stack and the flexibility to evolve. - Modular services
The ability to choose what you need — wrappers, portals, admin, regulatory — and leave what you don’t. - Operational depth
Support that goes beyond the tech: experienced teams who understand pensions, compliance and client servicing. - Scalability
Infrastructure that grows with your business, from pilot to platform. - Proven track record
Experience delivering for wealth managers, consolidators and digital businesses alike.
A blend of services that works together — or stands alone
Firms come to Quai Digital with different objectives — some are launching new propositions, others are adapting what they already have. Our modular services are designed to support both.
- Investment wrappers – including SIPPs, ISAs and GIAs, with deep product expertise at our core
- Client and adviser portals – designed to be clear, intuitive and branded to your business
- Regulatory services – covering reporting, oversight, and operational resilience
- Admin operations – including onboarding, rebalancing, dealing, and ongoing client servicing
Firms can take as much or as little as they need — from a full end-to-end solution to standalone components that integrate into existing propositions.
A modular approach, grounded in experience
Every firm we work with is trying to solve slightly different problems — and that’s exactly what our approach is built for.
Some need a full-service solution, ready to go. Others want to plug a specific gap — from pension admin, to expanding their wrapper range, to online tools that support decumulation strategies. Many are simply looking for a partner who understands the operational and regulatory complexity they face.
Our approach is designed to reflect that variety: flexible where it matters, proven where it counts.
Want to see how this works in practice?
If you’re exploring new ways to configure your proposition — or simply want to see how other firms are approaching these challenges — we’re always happy to share what we’re seeing in the market.
Get in touch to start the conversation.
