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Forward Features Calendar For 2024

Editorial Staff

21 December 2023

The forward features calendar for 2024 is not a definitive guide; it is meant to give those who engage with us an idea of which topics we consider to be important for the foreseeable future. Major news events might mean that we will have to revise this calendar – as has happened in the past. As always, we rely on our readers to keep us on our toes about what topics are important to them, so please email the editors: tom.burroughes@wealthbriefing.com and amanda.cheesley@clearviewpublishing.com.
 

General themes
ESG investing is a ubiquitous topic which we will cover throughtout the year. We can broaden the coverage to include more articles on the “S” (society) and “G” (governance, such as shareholder accountability, disclosures, role of analysts in covering firms, etc).

We also intend to look at how wealth managers choose funds from a vast range of funds, and whether funds need to be consolidated? Is the business of measuring performance up to scratch, and what is being done? 

“Protecting the client” – we have carried many stories and guest articles about cybersecurity, physical security, reputation management, family law, using trusts and other structures, and lasting powers of attorney, for example – an area we intend to continue. (This publication is also holding a Cybersecurity and AI Summit on 5 June 2024 in New York.)

Regarding family offices, we continue to track developments, including their increased professionalisation and expansion into new markets. (This news service is planning a family office investment summit in the autumn of 2024.)

January 2024
The start of the year is typically a chance to make forecasts on what wealth managers think clients should do with their money. We want to hear from wealth and asset managers, advisors and private banks, on what they think clients should be doing. Contrarian or specialised ideas are welcome. The past year saw rising interest rates take some steam out of private markets such as venture capital. What is the outlook?

February
Time to look at technology again. Recent months saw a big focus on AI, and 2024 promises more of the same. What are the wealth management use cases for AI, and what are the benefits, how can they be measured and monitored? How should wealth managers explain how to show the value-add impact of AI, and be clear about how they use it? Can AI have a meaningful impact on fees, costs, profits, revenue generation and building a new source of clients? How can AI intersect with areas such as ESG investing, behavioural finance, risks management more generally, client reporting, and more? 

Away from AI, we will look at the continued digitalisation of the value chain; and how tech is necessary for bankers and advisors' training. The field of regtech (handling compliance challenges, such as KYC checks etc) also needs to be explored. 

March 
For the Asia edition, we want to examine the external asset manager and family offices sectors of Singapore and Hong Kong in detail, along with the rising economies of countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia. We want to talk to service providers, banks, financial technology firms, lawyers and accountants – and recruiters and regulators such as MAS. For the global edition, we will continue to track developments in private banking, EAMs and other providers in the Gulf region of the Middle East, and Switzerland.

April
We are planning a possible spread of stories about talent management, recruitment and compensation at private banks, family offices, and others. We will talk to recruiters, consultants on pay, business schools, and organisations such as the CFA, for example. (In April, this news service will hold a fintech forum in New York.)

May
A possible spread of stories and features on offshore centres – how they are competing, trends on what sort of services and products are gaining attention. We can, for example, interview the governments and industry bodies in Jersey, Guernsey, Bahamas, Caymans, Monaco, Luxembourg, and Mauritius, etc. 

June 
Cryptos and digital assets' spread, talking to practitioners in Switzerland, the US, the UK, Singapore, the GCC, and other places – finding out about regulatory developments, who is doing interesting things.

July
A set of features on shifting sands around taxation in the UK, the US, the European Union, and other countries. Two elections in 2024 – the UK and the US – where tax is bound to be an important consideration. We can use this as a hook to talk about tax generally.

August
No events scheduled. 

September
Asset allocation and investment stories as people return from their annual leave. Specific areas to examine are biotechnology, healthcare, and associated research.

October
We will look at the evolving world of digital assets, and what is happening in the “tokenization” of real-world assets, as well as how regulations evolve worldwide, and what the private banking and wealth management sector is doing. 

November
Philanthropy articles: how using structures such as foundations is changing and how political and cultural controversies have affected giving to education charities (fallout from student protests, etc), and trends in giving. 

December
To be decided.