Individual wealth is growing at a faster pace right now, in every region of the world, than any other period in history. The high net worth population continues to increase with more than 9.5 million people globally holding more than $1 million in financial assets. China will have 520 million middle class by 2025 with similar trends in India. Asset & wealth management continues to be a rapidly evolving industry. Financial services organizations are faced with demanding customers who expect highly accessible and personalized financial products and services. The focus on clients will require firms to understand the differences among client segments, the uniqueness of individual customers and the utilization of integrated technology. Companies still need to achieve elevated profit and growth while remaining sensitive to customer needs, increasing market risks, continued regulations, and economic pressures. Organizations are combining traditional trends of asset preservation and optimization with pioneering trends of alternative investments and portability. Growth in the industry is driven by emerging global markets and innovative products and services.

Investment Management (banking, financial services and insurance) firms need to employ a dynamic client service model and need to respond quickly to business opportunities. Organizations face the challenges of mounting competition, more complex regulation, increased customer expectations and asset portability. Customer retention and organic growth remain critical to survival while focus on growth in emerging markets and services are maintained. The regulatory environment has tightened and opportunities for efficient and cost effective compliance processes are necessary to compete. Improved processes and increased controls can enhance business strategies and develop consumer confidence. Successful companies will be defined by integration of services, innovation of new products and adaptability to changing environments. Investment Management business architecture needs to harness sophisticated and integrated operational and process excellence together with IT/technologies for efficient management processes.