The investment landscape rarely stands still, and the past few months have been no exception. Shifts in yields, changing market dynamics and fresh flows of capital are reshaping how investors think and act. At the same time, we’ve seen big changes within Aon too—from the way we build teams, to the clients we serve and how we’re shaping conversations at our annual investment conference, part of the Wealth Insights Series, in November.
Market Trends to Watch
Over the past few months, three trends have really stood out: elevated yields, curve dynamics and the democratisation of private assets. Each is shaping markets significantly and understanding them is essential for all types of institutional investors looking to navigate this environment effectively.
Yields remain historically high, which has prompted clients to ask if now is the right time to increase exposure to treasuries. The appeal is clear—attractive yields—but there’s a trade-off because higher yields also push up valuations elsewhere. This makes markets more expensive and calls for a careful, nuanced approach.
At the same time, the role for private markets is undergoing a transformation. There’s a flood of capital flowing into private equity and venture capital. This is driven in part by policy moves in the US, like the executive order signed last year, and similar initiatives across Europe such as the Mansion House Accord in the UK.
This “democratisation” of private assets is opening access to a broader range of investors, but it also brings challenges of saturation, compressed returns and higher risk. Navigating these challenges requires deep experience and expertise, whether in small- and mid-cap private equity or venture capital.
At Aon, we see this as a key differentiator.
Success is not just about spotting opportunity, it’s about knowing how to manage risk, structure exposure and find value in a crowded and evolving landscape. For investors looking to succeed in today’s market, that kind of insight and experience has never been more important.For clients, these market trends underline one simple truth: diversification is key. That could mean exploring more complex investments, such as asset-backed securities, insurance-linked securities or hedge funds.
But it’s important to note that thriving in this environment isn’t just about spreading investments because strong governance and operational readiness are also equally important.
This is crucial because we’ve all seen how quickly markets can change – take events like “Liberation Day” for example - so clients need to stay agile and be ready to react quickly.
Yet, these shifts haven’t just affected clients. They have also pushed us to adapt as a business to ensure we stay ready to support investors in a fast-moving world.
Empowering Teams for Client Success
We’ve always valued diversity of experience and expertise across our teams because it brings fresh ideas and perspectives, which are crucial – and especially so - when navigating a complex environment. In the last twelve months we have continued to invest in building our teams and I’m proud to lead 250+ investment professionals who draw on their diverse strategic investment and asset management expertise to support our clients.
Lately, we have taken this further with the introduction of initiatives to support colleagues’ growth and learning journeys. We have also been exploring how technology and AI can enhance the way we work. By embedding these tools across the business, our teams can share knowledge more easily, learn from different areas of what we do and respond with greater agility. These steps have further strengthened and energised our teams and, ultimately, our ability to support clients in a fast-moving market.
We have actively applied the same diversification strategies across our client base, leveraging our experience and expertise to support a broader range of institutional investors – who, while at different points in their investment journeys, are navigating very similar challenges. And we’ve made real progress here. For me, one of the standout moments of the last year has been seeing this strategy come to life across a growing number of portfolios for endowments, foundations and insurers.
Importantly, even as our client base has expanded, we’ve stayed true to our roots.
Whether it’s advisory, fiduciary, OCIO or single-strategy solutions, our guiding principle remains the same: helping clients make better decisions to meet their portfolio objectives. That commitment will continue to be our north star as we continue to grow.Aon Wealth Insights 2025: Embracing Change Together
As we’ve expanded our focus to serve a more diverse client base in today’s changing market, we’ve taken the same approach with this year’s Aon Wealth Insights conference, taking place in London on 5 & 6 November.
This year, we’re moving to The Peninsula London and we’re looking forward to welcoming over 200 representatives from across the investment industry. We will be bringing in broader institutional perspectives to create rich discussions and support investors to gain greater clarity, ambition and strategic focus. By doing this, our hope is to help strengthen long-term investment and governance strategies and to create opportunities for delegates to share their insights and learn from other institutional investors and different types of portfolios.
It’s this diversity of audience that makes the conference so valuable. Whether you’re managing a large portfolio, exploring alternative assets or simply looking to understand the market forces shaping today’s investment landscape, there’s something for everyone.From elevated yields and curve dynamics to the surge of capital into private markets, the conference is where these themes come to life through insight, debate and shared expertise.
With markets evolving fast, staying informed and thinking strategically has never been more important. That’s exactly what this year’s conference offers—fresh perspectives, expert insight and lively discussion with peers across the investment landscape.
Aon’s Wealth Insights Series will be taking place at The Peninsula London, 5-6 November. Places are now limited, but you can learn more, view the agenda and register, here. For more information, contact [email protected].