Wealth management for professionals

Matt Ford at Sidekick explains why business leaders need to rethink wealth management for professionals

 

Wealth creation is a priority for the vast majority of business professionals. Yet, despite the evolution of financial technology, wealth management remains fundamentally flawed for many. If you’re ultra-wealthy, private banks compete to offer you bespoke services.

 

If you’re new to investing, there are an abundance of retail trading platforms and robo-advisors to choose from. But if you fall somewhere in the middle—earning well but not yet classified as ‘wealthy’—you are largely overlooked.

 

I’ve experienced this gap first-hand. When I launched my first company, Pariti, I focused entirely on growth. Like many founders and professionals, I assumed that financial security would follow naturally. It didn’t. The reality is that a six-figure salary doesn’t automatically grant access to the wealth-building tools, tax efficiencies, or liquidity strategies that the very wealthy take for granted.

 

Many professionals are left navigating an investment landscape that isn’t built for them—often without the knowledge, time, or access to optimise their financial position.

 

One-size-fits-all ignores professionals

Wealth management today operates in extremes. The ultra-rich benefit from highly personalised strategies, structured tax planning, and access to exclusive investment vehicles. Entry-level investors have access to low-cost index funds, retail investment platforms, and financial literacy content designed to encourage long-term saving. But professionals—those who earn good salaries and are starting to accumulate wealth—fall into an awkward middle ground.

 

This group faces distinct financial challenges that are rarely addressed: 

• Tax inefficiencies – Many professionals are caught in the UK’s ‘tax trap’, particularly those earning between £100,000 and £125,000, where effective tax rates can reach 60% due to the tapering of the personal allowance.
• Limited access to alternative investments – Unlike ultra-high-net-worth individuals, professionals are largely restricted to public markets and lack exposure to private equity, venture capital, and institutional-grade assets.
• Poor liquidity solutions – While the wealthy can leverage assets to borrow at low rates through private banking, most professionals must sell investments or take on personal debt to access liquidity.
• Time constraints – Busy professionals don’t have time to research complex investment strategies or manage multiple financial accounts, leading many to take a passive approach to wealth management. 

How fintech can bridge the gap

While wealth management has long been dominated by traditional firms, financial technology is starting to disrupt this model, making sophisticated strategies more accessible. The same way fintech has revolutionised banking and payments, it is now poised to transform how professionals invest, plan, and build wealth.

 

There are several key areas where fintech can bridge the gap for professionals: 

• Custom indexing and personalisation – Traditional investment models put people into rigid risk categories. New fintech-driven solutions allow professionals to create highly tailored portfolios, reducing overexposure to their own industry, employer stock, or single asset classes.
• Access to private markets – Private equity and venture capital have historically been the domain of institutional investors and the ultra-wealthy. Fintech is breaking down these barriers, providing professionals with opportunities to invest in alternative assets at lower entry points.
• Better liquidity solutions – High-net-worth individuals can borrow against their portfolios to access liquidity without selling assets, a strategy that professionals should also be able to utilise. Fintech innovations are beginning to offer portfolio-backed lending products that bring these benefits to a wider audience.
• Holistic wealth management – Many professionals manage multiple accounts across different platforms, from pensions to ISAs and brokerage accounts. AI-driven platforms are emerging that can consolidate these assets, offering better visibility and more strategic investment planning. 

Why business leaders should care

For companies focused on talent retention, financial wellbeing should be a key consideration. Salary alone is no longer a sufficient differentiator in attracting and keeping top talent. Professionals want more than a pension—they want guidance on tax-efficient savings, access to investment opportunities, and strategies to build long-term wealth.

 

Businesses that proactively support employees in navigating wealth management will foster greater loyalty, improve financial resilience among staff, and ultimately create a more stable and productive workforce. This could include offering educational programmes on financial literacy, employer-backed investment opportunities, or partnering with fintech platforms that provide more accessible wealth-building tools.

 

Moreover, from an industry perspective, fintech-driven innovation in wealth management is not a passing trend—it is a structural shift. The financial services industry is evolving, and businesses that fail to recognise the growing demand for more accessible and personalised wealth management solutions will find themselves left behind.

 

The future of wealth management

The financial landscape is shifting, and professionals who have traditionally been underserved by wealth management firms are demanding better solutions. Business leaders, whether in financial services or other industries, need to acknowledge that financial security isn’t just about salary. It’s about structured investment planning, tax efficiency, and access to diverse asset classes that promote sustainable wealth growth.

 

Looking back, if I could add one rule to the financial playbook that most professionals overlook, it would be this: start planning earlier than you think you need to. Many people wait until a major life event—a job change, a business sale, or a family milestone—to start thinking seriously about their financial future. But those who take proactive steps early on will have far more control over their wealth and financial security in the long run.

 

The question isn’t whether wealth management will be disrupted—it’s who will lead that disruption. As more professionals demand better solutions, the businesses and platforms that respond will define the future of the industry.

 

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Matt Ford is co-founder and CEO of wealth management platform Sidekick 

 

Main image courtesy of iStockPhoto.com and SARINYAPINNGAM