INTERVIEW

From our experts: Why wealth managers are shifting toward portfolio advice



18 March 2026 l James Verner, Head of APAC Business Development for Aladdin

Private markets and AI drive advisory overhaul.

Wealth managers in Asia are moving beyond product-led conversations to portfolio advice as clients seek a holistic view of risk, goals, and liquidity across the portfolio. With the growth of private markets, data transparency becomes more urgent to build end- investor confidence. Generative AI is also emerging as a practical tool to turn large amounts of data into insights - enabling personalised service at scale. In a video interview with Asian Banking & Finance, James Verner, Head of APAC Business Development for Aladdin, reflects on a clear shift underway in Asia’s wealth market: moving beyond product-led conversations toward portfolio advice anchored in a holistic view of risk, goals, and liquidity.

As private markets become a more common part of client portfolios, he explains why data transparency is becoming more urgent to support clearer expectations and stronger investor confidence.

James also discusses where generative AI is already proving practical—helping teams translate large volumes of information into client-ready insights and more personalized service at scale.

The portfolio complexity has outgrown the product conversation. There's so many factors to consider. It could be geography, it could be asset class, or certain vehicles that they're invested in.​

- James Verner,

 

Head of APAC Business Development for Aladdin