What FundForum International revealed about the future of investment management
FundForum International is the world’s leading asset and wealth management event. This year, the Paragon team joined more than 1,500 senior professionals, 150+ CEOs, and delegates from 60 countries in Monaco.
We came away with a clear view of where the industry is heading and how Paragon can help businesses respond.
AI dominated the agenda, but the bigger story is structural change across asset and wealth management - not just another technology cycle. Businesses are rethinking product design, client engagement and operating models, while balancing faster innovation with strong governance. Risk, compliance and client trust remain non-negotiable.
There were also clear signs of progress beyond strategy. The women’s networking sessions stood out, with practical discussions on leadership sponsorship, board representation and building a stronger pipeline of female talent. Momentum here is real and growing.
Against that backdrop, and across the conversations our team held with delegates, five themes consistently came to the fore.
1.Communication as a competitive differentiator
Performance alone is no longer enough, but instead the challenge is to adapt operating models to meet a more demanding and global client expectation.
As products become more accessible and investor expectations continue to evolve, firms are placing greater emphasis on how they communicate, engage and build relationships with clients through the use of personalisation, digital engagement and seamless cross channel experiences.
That ability to communicate value clearly and consistently is becoming a key factor in building trust and long-term client loyalty.
2.AI and data are key to the evolution of the industry’s infrastructure
AI wasn’t theoretical - it was everywhere - with a humanoid robot called KOID taking to the stage to deliver one of the event’s most memorable moments.
But beyond the spectacle, the message was grounded: AI only delivers at scale when the fundamentals are in place. That means high-quality data, strong governance and redesigned workflows.
3.How businesses are using digital engagement to improve onboarding, servicing and in-flows
As businesses work to attract and retain investors in an increasingly competitive market, the onboarding experience is coming under greater scrutiny. Delegates spoke about the need to remove friction from investor journeys, accelerate account opening, and create more seamless digital experiences without compromising compliance or governance.
Businesses are looking at how onboarding, servicing and investor engagement can work together to improve participation, reduce operational effort and accelerate the flow of assets into investment products.
4.Tokenisation is becoming infrastructure
Tokenisation is no longer a future concept. It’s already shaping how investment products are structured and distributed - improving liquidity, settlement and access to private markets.
The spotlight has moved from the technology itself to what it enables. As operating models evolve, so must the customer journeys and communications that support them.
5.Trust and experience will define winners
Scale alone is no longer a differentiator. Businesses are competing on trust, transparency, specialist expertise and the quality of client relationships. Technology is an enabler and not a replacement for those relationships.
That’s where Paragon plays a critical role: we help clients deliver communications and experiences that build lasting trust.
And finally…
The closing speaker, a former Head of MI6, was asked:
What’s the most suspicious-looking thing you’ve ever done that was completely innocent?
It brought the room together and it’s a question that’s stuck with us.
We’d love to hear your answer, so join the conversation on LinkedIn and let us know.
