1、Top considerations forfinancial intermediariesRethinking the futureA business of Marsh McLennanTop considerations for financial intermediaries 20262Foreword The role of the financial intermediary has never been more complex,or more critical.As markets transition from an era of abundant liquidity and

2、 synchronized policy to one defined by higher funding costs,structural divergence and accelerated innovation,financial intermediaries are being asked to do more than allocate capital they are being asked to interpret complexity,protect clients,and deliver resilient outcomes in an environment where e

3、very investment decision carries both opportunity and operational risk.Mercers long-term outlook,Themes and Opportunities 2025:Post-Consensus,underscores this transformation.It highlights a market shaped by competing forces that increasingly challenge the foundational assumptions of the past few dec

4、ades.Free trade,central bank independence,Western technological leadership and the trajectory of the energy transition have all become subjects of renewed debate,each with the potential to reshape global capital flows and portfolio outcomes.For financial intermediaries,this environment demands a rec

5、alibration of approach:balancing long-term conviction with operational discipline and an unwavering focus on client protection.As allocations to private markets expand,driven by opportunities in AI,healthcare innovation,data infrastructure,and impact-oriented themes such as the circular economy and

6、biodiversity,the need for robust oversight has intensified.Identifying quality managers is necessary but no longer sufficient.Financial intermediaries must evaluate how those managers operate:their governance frameworks,valuation practices,cash controls,technology resilience and third-party dependen