Core Insights - The wealth management sector should industrialize its growth strategies, focusing on analytics and streamlined onboarding processes to enhance performance [1] - A significant consolidation trend is observed, with approximately 210 transactions per year since 2022, potentially reducing the number of asset and wealth managers by up to 20% by 2029 [4] - High-net-worth individuals with $1-10 million in assets represent a key demographic, holding around $38 trillion in investable wealth and showing stable revenue yields [3] Growth Strategies - Firms are encouraged to build ecosystems that support private market investments, including educating clients and introducing liquidity tools [1] - Simplifying product offerings and re-architecting core platforms can lead to gross savings of 10% to 25% [2] - The integration of AI is expected to enhance productivity and efficiency within firms [8] Market Dynamics - The alternative investment market is growing, with semi-liquid formats increasing by 41% year-over-year in 2024, making private markets more accessible [3] - Revenue margins for wealth management firms are declining, with a projected decrease of around six basis points in 2024 and an additional three basis points in the first half of 2025 [5] - Global household financial wealth is expected to grow by approximately 5.5% per year until 2029, despite shrinking revenue margins for firms [9] Client Expectations - Clients are increasingly demanding digital solutions, including self-service portals and rapid onboarding processes [7] - The industry is shifting towards an industrialized model of financial advice, with automated systems handling the majority of processes [11] - Specialized propositions for high-net-worth individuals will be developed, offering tiered services based on wealth levels [12] Future Trends - The financial services industry is projected to see around 1,500 transactions by 2029, driven by banks and independent firms consolidating [7] - Tokenization, including stablecoins, is expected to reshape deposit economies and client cash management [7] - Continued demand for yield-plus investments and tokenized cash for liquidity management is anticipated [10]

Company Overview - Ares Management is a leading global alternative asset manager with approximately $600 billion in assets under management [1] Industry Performance - In 2025, Ares maintained its industry-leading growth momentum, driven by record fundraising, accelerated deployment, and strong investment performance [2]