New Research Reveals Critical Pension Adequacy Gap: What Financial Advisers Need to Know

Major workplace pensions study uncovers opportunities for advisers to address retirement income shortfalls affecting 15 million UK workers

November 2025 – New research from Royal London highlights a growing disconnect between employees’ retirement expectations and their actual pension savings, creating significant advice opportunities for financial advisers working in the pensions sector.

The comprehensive study of 4,000 UK employees with pensions reveals that nearly 15 million working-age people are not on track for an adequate retirement income, despite automatic enrolment transforming workplace pension participation since 2012.

Ageing Population Transforming Protection in Retirement: Strategic Marketing Opportunities for Financial Advisers

The Demographic Shift Reshaping Financial Services

The financial landscape for retirees—and the advisers who support them—is changing rapidly. Swiss Re’s latest Sigma report, highlighted by FT Adviser, reveals that 27% of people in advanced markets will be over 65 by 2050. This demographic shift, alongside falling birth rates and rising longevity, is creating both unprecedented risks and significant opportunities for financial planners, protection specialists, and wealth managers.

How Financial Advisers Can Engage Women Clients: A Strategic Growth Opportunity

In a rapidly evolving advice market, firms that build distinct value propositions and meaningful relationships are best placed to win. One of the most under-leveraged growth opportunities lies in engaging more women clients effectively.

For financial advice firms looking to differentiate themselves and accelerate growth, understanding how to authentically serve women investors isn’t just about diversity—it’s about recognising a market segment that is underserved, highly loyal, and positioned for significant wealth accumulation.

Why Annuities Are Back in Focus — and What Financial Planning Firms Can Do With This Opportunity

In a landscape of market volatility, interest-rate uncertainty and evolving retiree behaviour, guaranteed income propositions are receiving renewed attention. Recent research from LV= reveals that nearly 43% of UK adults say certainty is the most important factor when planning their retirement income — rising to over 50% for those aged 60 and above. At the same time, both lifetime annuities and fixed-term annuities are beginning to re-enter the conversation as credible options for many clients.

How Younger Advisers Are Driving Organic Growth: Practical Marketing Strategies for Financial Planning Firms

New research reveals younger financial advisers aren’t just the future of the profession—they’re driving measurable client acquisition and revenue growth today. Here’s how firms can turn this insight into actionable marketing campaigns that attract clients and differentiate their brand.

The Business Case: What the Data Actually Shows

Recent research from NextWealth and Aegon provides concrete evidence that younger advisers generate significantly more revenue from new clients. According to the Organic Growth for Financial Advice Firms report, advisers aged under 45 generated 22% of their personal revenue from new clients in the past year—compared to just 17% for advisers aged 45-54, 14% for those aged 55-64, and 16% for advisers over 65.

Retirement Voice 2025: Marketing Strategies for UK Financial Advisers

Executive Summary for Busy Advisers

The Standard Life Centre for the Future of Retirement’s Retirement Voice 2025 report reveals critical opportunities for financial advice firms. Based on 6,000 UK adults surveyed in October 2025, we’ve identified 10 priority marketing campaigns that address real client concerns—from the five-year “retirement expectation gap” to auto-enrolment complacency affecting 45% of DC pension holders.

Quick wins to start this quarter:

How Financial Advisers Can Better Serve Neurodiverse Clients: A Practical Guide

The conversation around diversity and inclusion within financial services has gained significant momentum. One area now firmly in focus is neurodiversity. With between 10% and 15% of UK adults classified as neurodiverse, this represents a substantial portion of existing client bases. For financial advisers looking to strengthen client relationships and build competitive advantage, recognising and adapting to neurodiverse clients’ needs is both a responsibility and a strategic opportunity.

Consumer Duty Two Years On: Turning Compliance into a Growth Strategy for Financial Advisers

Two years after the Financial Conduct Authority’s Consumer Duty came into effect in July 2023, its impact on UK financial advisers has moved beyond initial compliance. The challenge now is embedding Consumer Duty principles into every aspect of business operations—and using them to drive growth and competitive advantage.

For financial advisers seeking to attract new clients and build stronger professional relationships, Consumer Duty presents both regulatory obligations and strategic opportunities. By aligning with its principles, firms can ensure compliance whilst differentiating themselves in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

Why Gen Z’s View of Financial Advice Is a Strategic Imperative for UK Financial Planners

A recent spotlight feature by Money Marketing examines what Gen Z really thinks about financial advice, and the findings should be a wake-up call for financial professionals. The attitudes, preferences, and behaviours of this younger generation represent both a challenge and an opportunity for planners who want to future-proof their firms, deepen professional referral relationships, and build a distinctive brand.

Closing the Empathy Gap: How Financial Advisers Can Build Trust Through Genuine Care

The Zurich Empathy Report 2025 reveals a critical market opportunity for financial advisers willing to embed empathy into their client experience strategy. With research spanning over 11,000 consumers across 11 markets, the findings demonstrate that empathy isn’t just a soft skill—it’s a measurable driver of business growth and competitive advantage.

The Empathy Advantage: Why It Matters for Financial Advisers

According to the comprehensive global survey, three in five consumers only engage with companies demonstrating genuine care. Almost half admitted to leaving a brand due to lack of empathy. For financial advisers, this presents both a challenge and an opportunity.