This news service's forward features calendar for 2025 is a taster – an invitation to our readers to keep us on our toes about what topics matter to you.

The forward features calendar for 2025 is not a definitive guide; it is meant to give those who engage with us an idea of which subjects we consider to be important for the foreseeable future, but there will be unexpected turns and ideas that are bubbling under the surface.

Major news events might mean that we will have to revise this calendar – as has happened with Covid and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. As always, we rely on our readers to keep us informed about what topics are important to them, so please email the editors: 

tom.burroughes@wealthbriefing.com and amanda.cheesley@clearviewpublishing.com 
 
General themes
ESG investing has been a major topic, if not quite as ubiquitous as before. There is a broadening of how this area is covered, such as more focus on “S” (society) and “G” (governance, such as shareholder accountability, disclosures, role of analysts in covering firms, etc).

Artificial intelligence in all its various use cases is also a theme so large that it will be on view throughout the year. Digitalization of the wealth management value chain remains a dominant area.

“Protecting the client” – we have carried many stories and guest articles about cybersecurity, physical security, reputation management, family law, using trusts and other structures, and lasting powers of attorney, for example – an area we intend to continue. The world is a volatile place and private bankers and their clients travel a good deal, for example. This creates risks to navigate.

Regarding family offices, we continue to track developments, including their increased professionalization and expansion into new markets. We also intend to closely watch regulatory developments, and how jurisdictions such as Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Singapore, to give just three, try to attract them.

January 2025
The start of the year is typically a chance to make forecasts on what wealth managers think clients should do with their money. We want to hear from wealth and asset managers, advisors and private banks, on what they think clients should be doing. Contrarian or specialized ideas are welcome. As important to asset allocation is asset location – the tax, structural and jurisdictional angles. With taxes rising in some countries, the implications are significant. 

February
Yes, AI remains a central, fascinating area. While we look at the topic all year around, the editorial team wants to explore in more detail what sort of use cases in wealth management are gaining ground and why: risk management, cost and efficiency, personalization. The team is keen to hear from firms of all kinds how they are putting AI to work, and what “success” looks like. Away from AI, we will look at the continued digitalization of the value chain; and how tech is necessary for bankers and advisors' training. For example, what are the HR and training angles on tech? 

March 
Jurisdictions in flux: With countries such as the UK hiking taxes on HNW individuals, this puts other centers in the frame. While some media hype can exaggerate changes, we want to look at which countries and jurisdictions are succeeding in the war for capital and talent. What are they doing? How are these places competing, and in some cases, co-operating? Regionally, we will try to see which countries in North Asia and Southeast Asia are developing wealth management competitive edges. In North America, there is a chance to examine the specific states within the union that operate as trust/corporate hubs: Delaware, South Dakota, New Hampshire, etc. In the UK, we also want to look at the impact of the government's latest move to curtail agriculture business relief from inheritance tax (IHT) which has sparked protests across the country.

April
We are planning a possible spread of stories about talent management, recruitment and compensation at private banks, family offices, and others. We will talk to recruiters, consultants on pay, business schools, and organizations such as the CFA, for example.

May
Protecting clients: In addition to year-round coverage opportunities, we want to explore the extent to which this sort of protective role (physical, cyber, legal, reputational, medical, educational, family dynamic, etc) aspect of the private advisor is changing and evolving. Growing wealth is not enough: people want to be protected against various harms to themselves and their families. 

June 
Business models of wealth management: what forms are prospering and what are possibly losing ground and why? Does the universal bank, “one bank” model still rule the roost, or are “pure play” approaches gaining? What is happening in terms of fees, alignment of interests, the role of private equity ownership of wealth management, etc? Have some of the big mergers (UBS/Credit Suisse, etc) left the sector stronger or more concentrated in ways that are problematic? A chance to talk to M&A commentators, consultants and analysts from different regions.

July
Making independent people: A look at how achieving wealth creates options in life – in work, social relations, play and investment. To what extent should private client advisors and wealth managers think that their role is to make it possible for clients to flourish and achieve freedom of action. We can explore the role, for example, of “wealth coaches” and advisors who work with clients in setting their goals, helping with wealth transfer and handling the responsibilities that come with wealth and business.

August
No events scheduled. 

September
Asset allocation and investment stories as people return from their annual leave. 

October
Cryptos and digital assets' spread, talking to practitioners in Switzerland, the US, the UK, Singapore, the GCC, and other places – finding out about regulatory developments, who is doing interesting things and how far this technology is changing wealth management – or not. 

November
Philanthropy articles: how using structures such as foundations is changing and how political and cultural controversies have affected giving to education charities (fallout from student protests, etc), and trends in giving. 

December
To be decided.