Singapore investors demand more from wealth managers

Singapore investors are seeking more advice and alternative investments, increasing pressure on wealth managers to meet rising service expectations and adviser demand.

The Avaloq Wealth Insights 2026 report, based on surveys of 4,256 investors and 480 wealth professionals across 21 markets, found strong demand for professional advice and alternative investments in Singapore.

Almost three quarters (72%) of Singapore investors have an assigned adviser. Yet unmet demand remains substantial: 39% of investors without an adviser said they would be interested in having one.

Demand for advice is accompanied by high expectations for service. Almost a third (32%) of Singapore investors communicate with their bank, wealth manager or adviser at least once a week, while 82% expect a response within one day. At the same time, each adviser in Singapore manages an average of 64 clients, putting a premium on adviser capacity.

Technology can help firms increase that capacity. Avaloq’s research identifies automation and AI as ways to reduce manual workload and free advisers to spend more time on client relationships. This is particularly relevant in Singapore, where 55% of wealth professionals said administrative workload limits their ability to focus on clients.

Singapore wealth professionals take a positive view of AI. Nine in ten (90%) believe AI will become integral to how they perform their work within the next two years, while 85% believe it will have a positive impact on the industry.

Investors are also open to AI playing a supporting role. More than half (54%) are comfortable with AI being used by their bank or wealth manager. Some 63% are open to AI assistance when receiving product recommendations and 58% when analysing portfolio performance. These preferences point to a role for AI in supporting human advice rather than replacing it. Data privacy remains the main concern, cited by 40% of investors who are hesitant about AI.

Investment interests are broadening beyond traditional assets. Some 46% of Singapore investors hold private market assets, while 35% hold cryptocurrencies and other digital assets. Yet knowledge remains the biggest barrier among those who have not invested in either asset class, cited by 50% for private markets and 45% for crypto.

Traditional financial institutions could therefore play a bigger role in helping clients access and understand these investments. Among investors who do not currently hold private market assets, 67% said they would invest if it were offered by their traditional bank or wealth manager. For crypto, the figure is 52%. And while 82% of Singapore crypto investors currently hold their assets through an exchange, 48% would transfer them to a traditional financial institution if that option were available.

For wealth managers, meeting this demand will also require greater confidence in advising on digital assets. While investor appetite is clear, 80% of wealth professionals surveyed in Singapore said they need clearer regulatory guidance before recommending cryptocurrencies and other digital assets to clients.

Vibhooti Chaturvedi, Managing Director for Asia Pacific at Avaloq, said: “Singapore investors want access to a broader range of investments, responsive service and professional advice when they need it. For wealth managers, the challenge is meeting those expectations as demand grows. Technology can give advisers greater capacity by reducing manual work and making relevant client information easier to access, while keeping human judgement at the centre of the relationship.”

The report findings come as Avaloq and DBS deepen their longstanding partnership. Under a memorandum of understanding signed in September, the two firms agreed to explore enterprise growth, co-innovation and capability building. The partnership aims to strengthen the capability and capacity of advisers and specialists as DBS grows its wealth business.

  Re-disseminated by Wealth and Society