The Asset Manager Peer Study - 2026 - Thinking Ahead Institute

About the study

Our new Asset Manager Peer Study is a thought leadership initiative with two clear aims: to offer a robust, well framed way of thinking about critical and topical issues, and to support intelligence gathering from asset managers to build a shared evidence base for future insights and analysis.

Andrea Caloisi, Researcher at Thinking Ahead, provides an early look at the study.

Andrea, tell us a bit more about the objective of this study.

We want to encourage constructive co-opetition among participating asset managers – sharing insights on common challenges while strengthening the industry’s collective capacity to adapt and innovate.

What will the study primarily focus on?

How asset managers are evolving their people, processes, data, technology and investment philosophy to navigate increasing complexity and long-term challenges.

What is the asset manager pool?

Our target audience is asset managers who attended WTW’s MiX conferences in 2025, including Global Partners and Thinking Ahead members. We will also sought external collaborations with research partners.

What is the survey structure at a glance?

The survey has three core sections:

Operating model factors, including: human intelligence stack, tech stack, process stack, and intelligence stack
Investment model factors, including: private-public model, multiple goals model, best ideas model, talent source model
Next Gen factors, including: Next Gen business, Next Gen investing, Next Gen professional, and Next Gen vision.

How can people engage with this?

Asset managers can take part. Reach out to our team and we can send you more information on how to take part in the survey.

You can be the first to hear the results during our session at WTW’s MiX Conference, Europe on Wednesday 13 May; with further insights shared directly with you across our channels.