New Year, new opportunities for advisers | IFAM 145 | February 2026

New Year, New Opportunities for Advisers

Focusing on key trends and changes that can deliver opportunities for advisers in 2026. 

As readers will know, here at IFA Magazine we like to dedicate each edition to a topic that really matters to advisers. We’re fortunate to have access to so many brilliant experts’ minds across the financial services spectrum, all generously willing to share their insights, analysis, and best-practice ideas. With so much change on the horizon this year, it felt like the perfect moment to find out what they are thinking.

New Year, new opportunities

Across the following pages, you will find a rich mix of ideas and perspectives on the key developments shaping financial planning in the UK in 2026. From practical strategies to capitalise on emerging opportunities, to expert commentary on the big-picture shifts, Scottish Widows’ Jenny Davidson kicks things off for us on page 6. 

Thereafter, whether it is integrating AI into your processes, preparing for the introduction of Targeted Support, adapting to tax changes that may prompt a rethink of clients’ long-term plans, or considering other emerging factors, we hope you find plenty of interest.  As always, we are grateful to all this month’s contributors for sharing their thinking with us and so generously supporting learning and best practice. 

Investment uncertainty

Of course, we cannot ignore the backdrop to all of this. We know markets dislike uncertainty, and right now there is a whole lot more of it than usual. Things can change by the hour, creating plenty of underlying unease. Political volatility, geopolitical tensions, and economic unpredictability are keeping us all on our toes. Interestingly, while equity markets seem relatively steady, gold and silver prices have been having a rollercoaster ride. Defensive plays including strength in fixed income show that investors are seeking protection against equities. Because of that, we have deliberately steered clear of delving too deeply into specific investments this month. 

Instead, we have focused on business development and on the topics our readers are most engaging with on our website. That means practical, actionable advice you can use here and now.

Making the most of opportunities

While it is still early in the year, your New Year’s resolutions may be… a tad optimistic? If you are anything like me, sticking to promises of healthier living, more exercise, or spending extra time with loved ones is easier said than done. While we cannot help much with those things, what we can do is share expert thinking. As always, our aim is to help you think about what you do, how you do it, and how you support your clients through a year full of uncertainty and opportunities.

So, whether your resolutions are still going strong or have already taken a detour, the start of 2026 is full of possibilities. Markets may wobble, politics may surprise us, and who knows what will happen to gold. But there is always plenty we can do: and that’s to be curious, adapt, and highlight some the opportunities that can make a real difference for you, your clients and for your business.

Sue Whitbread
Editor, IFA Magazine