North American Advisors See Growth Outlook Holding Firm as AI and Generational Change Reshape Advisory Business, Natixis Fund Manager Survey Says

Advisors are experiencing two generational shifts at once: client wealth is moving to spouses and heirs just as advisory staff are aging. Counselors in North America report preserving a spouse’s assets an average of 73% of the time after a client transition, but preservation drops to 56% for subsequent generations of heirs. Retention is even lower if advisors manage the assets of both parent and heir, at 45%. More than four-in-ten North American advisors say they are very concerned about not being able to keep inherited assets through wealth transfer, with concerns higher in Canada than in the US (63% vs. 39%).

That challenge also creates opportunities for growth. Nearly eight in ten North American advisors (78%) say the wave of advisor retirements is a significant opportunity to grow their business, with 66% saying it will widen the advisory gap. Advisors also acknowledge the talent challenge posed by an aging workforce, with 44% saying they are struggling to recruit younger advisors to help fill the gap. That challenge appears to be most pressing in Canada, where 67% report difficulty recruiting young consultants, compared to 37% of American consultants.

As the next generation reshapes expectations for advice, advisors are adapting both their service models and client engagement strategies. Nearly three-quarters (73%) say they are playing catch-up to capture next-generation assets, including offering specialized planning services to younger clients, expanding digital tools, adding AI capabilities, exploring new channels of assessment such as social media, and hiring younger consultants.

Gad Amar, Head of Western Europe Distribution at Natixis Investment Managers, said, “Advisors best positioned for the next phase of growth will be those who can combine technology, scale and digital access with the personal relationships, accountability and ethical training that investors continue to value in human advisors. They deliver a personalized client experience at scale.”

Natixis Investment Managers’ global report on the findings of its 2026 survey of Financial Advisers can be found here: https://www.im.natixis.com/en-intl/insights/investor-sentiment/2026/five-factors-set-to-disrupt-the-financial-advice-businessHow to do it Natixis Investment Managers surveyed 2,950 investment professionals in 23 countries. The data was collected in March-May 2026 by the research company CoreData with additional analysis by the Natixis Center for Investor Insights.

The Natixis Center for Investor Insight is a global research program focused on the key issues shaping today’s investment landscape. The institute examines sentiment and behavior, market outlook and trends, and risk perceptions of institutional investors, financial professionals and individuals around the world. Our goal is to facilitate meaningful discussion of issues with a 360° view of the markets and insightful analysis of investment trends.

Natixis Investment Managers’ multidisciplinary approach connects clients to the independent thinking and deep expertise of more than 15 active managers. Ranked among the world’s largest asset managers1 with more than $1.4 trillion in assets under management2 (€1.2 trillion), Natixis Investment Managers focuses on sustainable investment strategies, insurance and pension solutions, and private equity, and delivers a diversified offering across asset classes, styles, and vehicles. The firm partners with clients to understand their unique needs and provide investment insights and solutions that align with their long-term goals.

Headquartered in Paris and Boston, Natixis Investment Managers is part of Groupe BPCE, the second largest banking group in France through the retail networks of Banque Populaire and Caisse d’Epargne. Firms managed by Natixis Investment Managers include AEW; DNCA Investments;3 Flexstone Partners; Gateway Investment Advisors; Harris | Oakmark; Investors Mutual Limited; Loomis, Sayles & Company; Mirova; Naxicap partners; Ossiam; Ostrum Asset Management; Seventure Partners; Vauban Infrastructure Partners; Vaughan Nelson Investment Management; VEGA Investment Solutions and WCM Investment Management. Additionally, investment solutions are offered through Natixis Investment Managers Solutions and Natixis Advisors, LLC. Not all offers are available in all locations. For more information, please visit the Natixis Investment Managers website at im.natixis.com | LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/natixis-investment-managers.

The distribution and services groups of Natixis Investment Managers include Natixis Distribution, LLC, a limited-purpose seller and distributor of various US registered investment companies for which advisory services are provided by the subsidiaries of Natixis Investment Managers, Natixis Investment Managers International (France), and their affiliated distribution and service organizations in Europe and Asia.

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