Affluent and high net worth (HNW) investors in the UK remain wary about the use of AI in an advisory capacity and continue to place a premium on trustworthy financial advice, according to report from Avaloq.

Its study of investors with at least $250,000 in investable assets and wealth management professionals found that 39 per cent of affluent investors in the UK rejected the idea of fully AI-driven advice, while 45 per cent were unwilling to accept AI even in a supporting capacity.

Avaloq said this showed that HNW investors continued to value trustworthy advice amid the ongoing uncertainty and volatility.

To this end, 57 per cent of UK investors would explore switching banks or wealth managers if they lost confidence in their adviser.

However, a rising number of wealth managers in the UK were facing challenges in finding the time to offer more personalised advisory services, with 42 per cent citing it as a barrier in 2025, up from 28 per cent last year.

Avaloq said this highlighted the mounting challenge of delivering the kind of services the market demands.

UK wealth management professionals were found to share investors’ reservations about AI, as while 87 per cent saw it as integral to their role, 40 per cent believed investors will not fully trust AI with financial planning or investment responsibilities.

Furthermore, 44 per cent of wealth management professionals saw their technology systems as outdated, while 53 per cent reported having too many systems to complete tasks.

“As market consolidation accelerates across the region, effective technology integration is becoming increasingly important for operational success,” Avaloq said.

Digital investment

Although the proportion of UK investors holding crypto and digital assets rose from 14 per cent to 19 per cent in 2025, this remained below the global average of 30 per cent.

Of those not invested in digital assets, 40 per cent cited a lack of trust in current crypto exchanges as a factor, the second highest figure among the markets included in the study.

The Financial Conduct Authority is currently considering changes that would ease restrictions on crypto products to retail investors, which Avaloq said could result in the broader adoption of crypto assets among UK investors going forward.

“The global wealth management industry is undergoing many significant changes, from international expansion and diversification to the rise of digital investment platforms and an increasing regulatory burden,” said Avaloq group CEO, Martin Greweldinger.

“In the face of such change, it is imperative that wealth management professionals have both a clear view of shifting investor priorities and the optimal means of engaging with clients.”

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