This accolade is also an indication of the institutional strength that Profuturo has developed over the years to maintain competitive performance and generate value for its clients. The combination of a rigorous investment strategy, operational excellence, effective risk management, and a long-term approach has enabled the company to consistently provide value while protecting the financial well-being of millions of Mexican workers.

This International Finance Award recognises financial organisations that demonstrate excellence in the quality of their asset management, their operational strength, and their ability to generate lasting value. For Profuturo, this award reinforces a track record built on consistency, and on decision-making grounded in analysis, experience, and fiduciary responsibility.

Profuturo’s commitment to maintaining a long-term strategy supported by disciplined investment and risk management is reflected in its competitive and sustained results. This approach has enabled the company to maintain its position as the top-performing pension fund manager for the past nine years, according to the Net Performance Indicator published by Mexico’s National Commission for the Retirement Savings System (CONSAR), which further reinforces the company’s consistent ability to deliver value to its clients.

The consistency of Profuturo’s results has also been recognised by leading international investment research organisations. Most recently, Profuturo became the first institution in Latin America to receive Morningstar’s Gold Medalist Rating. This achievement reflects the strength of the company’s investment process, the quality of its management team, its ability to create consistent value over time, and further solidifies Profuturo’s standing among the region’s leading retirement fund management companies.

This performance is not an isolated achievement. Rather, it stems from the institutional capabilities developed by Profuturo to manage retirement savings from a long-term perspective. The company’s model combines a prudent investment strategy with efficient risk management and robust decision-making processes, enabling the organisation to balance sustainable value generation with the protection of its clients’ assets.

“Profuturo’s asset management is not only guided by institutional policies, but also by a genuine commitment to our clients,” said Antonio Sibaja, chief investment officer at Profuturo, for whom these results are far from incidental, arising instead from a management philosophy consistently applied over time. “We have demonstrated that it’s possible to maintain consistent returns even in complex environments. This speaks to our investment discipline, but above all, to our responsible stewardship of the retirement savings entrusted to us by millions of Mexicans.”

The true significance of Profuturo’s history of achievement lies in the impact it has had on millions of Mexican workers. By translating sound management and sustained results into improved retirement outcomes, the company has demonstrated its commitment to responsible management of retirement assets, with a long-term vision and a steadfast focus on delivering value to its clients.

Alongside its financial performance, Profuturo has built a comprehensive client-centered model designed to support workers throughout their retirement journey. By combining innovation, operational excellence, and ongoing guidance and support, the company has cultivated a service ecosystem that integrates specialised advisory services, accessible digital tools, and content designed to facilitate informed decision-making at every stage of life.

This distinction from International Finance is the result of a rigorous evaluation process that considers factors such as operational performance, management quality, leadership, and impact on the global financial sector. As such, it is a testament to Profuturo’s history of consistent performance and the company’s commitment to generating consistent value.

“Receiving this award for the eighth consecutive year comes with a great responsibility for our entire team,” said Arturo Garcia, CEO of Profuturo. “We strive every day to provide solid and reliable savings solutions tailored to the needs of Mexican workers. This achievement motivates us to continue creating value for our clients and supporting them at every stage of life to help them safeguard their financial well-being.”

With this latest milestone, Profuturo has confirmed that its proven results are the product of well-developed institutional capabilities and an enduring commitment to the people it serves. Profuturo’s robust management model, long-term approach, and unwavering pursuit of excellence will continue to guide its efforts to protect and strengthen the financial future and retirement goals of millions of Mexican workers.

Image Credit: Profuturo

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As per the study titled “AI in Asset Management Market Report 2026,” published on Research and Markets, the ongoing surge stems from tailwinds like advancements in digital asset management, the increasing complexity of investment portfolios, the proliferation of financial data, and the heightened demand for error reductions in asset tracking and analytics-driven decision-making.

“The forecast for AI in the asset management market extends this trajectory, predicting a leap to USD 21.82 billion by 2030 with a CAGR of 32.4%. Key factors fueling this growth include the rising adoption of AI-driven financial platforms, an escalating demand for real-time asset visibility, and the expansion of algorithmic investment strategies. The integration of AI with blockchain and the development of cloud-based asset management solutions contribute to this anticipated expansion. Future trends predict advancements in automated asset tracking, AI-driven portfolio optimization, and real-time investment decision support,” the report said.

The immediate need for sophisticated fraud detection solutions has become the critical element to the AI market’s growth. Integrating AI into asset management solutions enhances operational efficiency, accuracy, and real-time monitoring capabilities, especially in fraud detection. To prove its point, the study cited the 2024 incident, in which the United States Department of the Treasury reported prevention and recovery of over USD 4 billion in fraud by leveraging machine-learning AI, showcasing the significant impact of AI-powered fraud detection.

“Leading companies are enhancing their market positions through innovations such as AI supercomputing services. In March 2023, NVIDIA Corporation launched DGX Cloud, offering a high-performance AI-training-as-a-service platform. This service provides enterprises with a serverless environment optimized for AI, signifying a leap forward in AI application accessibility,” the report said.

DGX Cloud now allows organizations to instantly access NVIDIA AI supercomputing across global cloud platforms using a standard web browser. The AI-training-as-a-service platform is offering enterprise developers a serverless environment tailored for doing R&D activities related to generative AI. DGX Cloud, equipped with eight NVIDIA 80GB Tensor Core GPUs, enables organizations to operate their own AI supercomputer through a web interface while delivering 640GB of GPU memory per instance.

“In corporate strategy developments, Alarm.com acquired Vintra in April 2023, marking an expansion of its deep-learning capabilities and fortifying its position in advanced video analytics for asset management. Such acquisitions indicate a trend of strategic enhancements among major players in the market,” it added further.

Prominent companies dominating the AI in asset management market include Alphabet, Microsoft, JPMorgan Chase, and Amazon Web Services (AWS), among others. Going by the regional analysis, in 2025, North America emerged as the leading market, with significant activity recorded in Asia-Pacific, Europe, and South America as well.

“Tariffs have had a dual impact, increasing costs for imported data center hardware and promoting a shift to cloud-based platforms. This transition supports software-centric models, boosting regional fintech ecosystems,” the report observed.

“These tariffs have influenced the AI in the asset management market by increasing costs related to imported data center hardware, analytics servers, and supporting IT infrastructure. These impacts are more visible in on-premise deployments across North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific. Higher infrastructure costs have encouraged firms to reassess capital investments. At the same time, tariffs are accelerating migration toward cloud-based AI asset management platforms. This transition is supporting software-centric delivery models and strengthening regional fintech ecosystems,” it added further.

Cutting-edge technologies like machine learning, deep learning, and predictive analytics have emerged as central elements to AI applications in asset management, being employed across sectors like BFSI, healthcare, retail, and more.

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The fundraising, apart from reflecting the growing and strong investor interest in Asia, also comes amid the geopolitical volatility created by the ongoing Iran war. Apart from Blackstone, Sweden-based EQT AB also benefitted from the positive investor environment, as it, in May 2026, raised USD 15.6 billion to create Asia’s largest private equity fund.

Blackstone, while targeting USD 10 billion for the fund named ⁠”Blackstone Capital Partners Asia III,” ended up raising more than double the amount of its previous investment vehicle.

Asia has been gaining from the trend of global institutional and high-net-worth investors diversifying away from the United States due to high valuations, inflation risks, and overall geopolitical uncertainty. Markets like Japan and India, known for offering a steady pipeline of buyout and growth opportunities, have been a major focus area for global asset managers.

“Asia Pacific is the fastest-growing region in the world, presenting compelling opportunities ‌to ⁠invest at scale behind our high-conviction themes and deliver for our investors,” said Joe Baratta, global head of Blackstone Private Equity Strategies.

Bain Capital recently raised about USD 10.5 billion in its sixth pan-Asia buyout fund, while KKR & Co., which, in 2021, raised the record amount of USD 15 billion for its pan-Asia fund, is now reportedly looking to collect USD 15 billion for its next such vehicle.

Talking about Blackstone’s Asia-related activities, since 2024, the alternative asset management giant ⁠has invested more than USD 7 billion in 12 deals in India and Japan, including companies such as Indian AI cloud platform Neysa and Japan’s engineering ⁠services provider TechnoPro. The firm also exited 15 companies during the period, including through listings of the International Gemological Institute and Aadhar Housing Finance, along with Japan’s Alinamin Pharmaceutical.

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As per the filing, the “BlackRock Daily Reinvestment Stablecoin Reserve Vehicle” will invest in cash, short-term US Treasury securities and overnight repurchase agreements secured by Treasuries. This, along with the digital class of existing funds, will have a minimum investment amount of USD 3 million.

When it comes to appealing to crypto-native investors, BlackRock faces steep competition, as in May 2026, State Street Investment Management too launched its “State Street Galaxy Onchain Liquidity Sweep Fund”, a tokenised cash-management product allowing large stablecoin holders to sweep their assets into an on-chain, yield-bearing asset.

“The firm aims to bridge traditional finance with the rapidly evolving digital asset ecosystem, bringing familiar, high-quality investment strategies into a format that aligns with how a growing cohort of investors hold and manage their capital on chain,” Kim Hochfeld, global head of cash, securities lending and digital assets at State Street, told ETF Upside.

“The firm’s first tokenised product represents an important milestone for State Street. It serves as a foundational step toward scaling a broader suite of on-chain investment solutions, positioning State Street at the forefront of the convergence between traditional asset management and blockchain-enabled finance,” she added further.

“The future of asset management will span both traditional and blockchain-based products, whether those are onchain or through more traditional vehicles like exchange-traded funds,” the senior official remarked.

State Street launched its fund on the Solana blockchain. It is now planning to integrate with Stellar and Ethereum. In the opinion of Gabriel Shahin, founder and CEO of Falcon Wealth, the move is a shift from institutional risk to architectural risk.

‘With a traditional treasury fund, you’re essentially trusting the “armoured truck”, meaning the infrastructure is slow, but it’s proven. State Street’s fund trades that for the speed of Solana. It’s like upgrading from a horse and buggy to an F1 car. The speed is incredible, but at 200 mph a technical glitch is instantaneous and irreversible,” he told The Daily Upside.

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Set for a Q4 2026 rollout, the platform will serve clients across Citi Private Bank, Wealth at Work, Citigold and Citigold Private Client groups, covering locations like North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific.

The program will consolidate Citi Wealth’s existing investment products, ETFs (Exchange-Traded Funds), mutual funds, separately managed accounts and alternatives, into a single account structure.

Clients will receive a single agreement, a unified fee, and consolidated reporting, along with multi-currency capabilities and access to both onshore and offshore investment structures.

The unified managed account program will also incorporate views from Citigroup’s Chief Investment Office and Citi Portfolio Solutions powered by BlackRock, a separately managed program that was first announced in September 2025.

Advyzon, a Chicago-based platform that serves more than 2,500 wealth management firms, is known for its technology stack, that covers model management, a manager marketplace, and tax overlay, along with other activities like direct indexing, trading, portfolio modelling, rebalancing, billing and reporting, through an AI-enabled, multi-currency, multi-jurisdictional architecture.

Keith Glenfield, Citi Wealth’s head of investment solutions, said, “the program is truly an industry innovation and a unique investment program, considering the global reach and combination of capabilities.”

He further stated that clients would be able to access the bank’s investment offerings through “a simplified and personalized investment program.”

Hailin Li, Advyzon’s founder and chief executive, remarked, “the firm is proud to partner with Citi Wealth on creating one global advisory platform that unites prospecting, account opening, unified management account/household, client reporting and custodial capabilities.”

The Advyzon deal arrives in the backdrop of Citi’s aggressive efforts to close gap with its competitors in the domain of wealth management. Andy Sieg, who joined the division in 2023 after serving as the president of Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, has been pushing the Wall Street biggie to shift from lending-centered revenues toward recurring investment income.

In fact, in 2025, he acknowledged that the bank’s managed assets platform “needs work to adjust, so that we can deliver the kind of unified managed account experience that US investors and, increasingly, investors around the world are looking for.”

For Advyzon, the Citi partnership is a significant expansion beyond the RIA (Registered Investment Advisor) market, where it usually operates. The company has ranked first in client satisfaction among all-in-one platforms for nine consecutive years in the “T3/Inside Information Software Survey.”

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BlackRock reported a net profit of USD 2.21 billion, or USD 14.06 per share, for the quarter. Its adjusted earnings were USD 12.53 a share, topping analysts’ ⁠expectations by 99 cents. Assets Under Management (AUM) stood at USD 13.89 trillion, up from USD 11.58 trillion a year earlier.

Investment advisory performance fees reached USD 272 million in the first quarter, a significant spike above USD 60 million in the same period in 2025. However, the world’s largest asset manager has a headache to deal with: its stock value is down over 2% in 2026, lagging behind its smaller rival, State Street.

Investors have closely monitored the health of BlackRock’s investments in private credit, an industry that has attracted large amounts of investor capital in recent years but has recently experienced significant outflows from some managers. The 2025 bankruptcies of US auto parts supplier First Brands and car dealership Tricolour highlighted the risks in a sector criticised for a lack of transparency.

BlackRock had USD 320.4 billion in assets in its private markets business in the first quarter, down from USD 322.6 billion at the end of 2025. The figures also included USD 9.1 billion in net inflows and USD 8.5 billion of returns of capital, along with a USD 2 billion drop in market values.

As per CEO Larry Fink, demand for private credit products has remained “structural,” reflecting the retreat of banks from some markets following the 2008 financial crisis and increasing global debt figures.

“While retail investors have pulled back from some private credit funds, institutional demand is accelerating,” Larry Fink said, as the higher returns and low leverage ⁠of private credit offerings have made these entities (the funds) a core part of how investors build portfolios.

“The wider spreads in the market point to shifting short-term sentiment that may create challenges for some providers, a situation that favours BlackRock competitively,” Larry Fink concluded.

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“Ms. Curtin is a member of the executive leadership team and serves as Global Chief Investment Officer of AlTi. She succeeds Michael Tiedemann, who will remain available in an advisory capacity to support the transition,” the New York-based venture said.

AlTi is known for combining the breadth of a global firm with the service offering of a family office to deliver solutions designed to meet the full complexity of wealth and capital. As of April 2026, the business manages or advises on over USD 93 billion in combined assets and possesses a global network of more than 450 professionals.

Since AlTi’s inception, Nancy Curtin has served as Global Chief Investment Officer, delivering strong returns for clients and leading a global team of more than 50 investment professionals. She also held a similar role, along with the position of Head of Investments at Alvarium Investments, until it merged to create AlTi.

Nancy Curtin’s experience-rich portfolio also includes leadership positions at Close Brothers Asset Management and Fortune Asset Management, where she led the building of businesses in the wealth and institutional space.

“Her early career included senior executive and investment roles at Schroders and Barings Asset Management. Ms. Curtin currently serves as Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Digital Bridge Group Inc, a global digital infrastructure private equity, private credit, and alternatives firm,” AlTi noted.

“On behalf of the Board, I want to thank Mike for his many years of dedicated leadership. Mike’s vision and commitment have been instrumental in building the collaborative culture and relentless focus on delivering excellence for clients. This truly sets AlTi apart,” said Timothy Keaney, Chair of the Board.

“As the Company continues to build a leading global wealth and investment platform for ultra-high-net-worth families, foundations, and endowments, the Board believes it is an appropriate moment to identify an executive to lead AlTi in its next phase of growth. We are confident that under Nancy’s leadership, we will build on the strong foundation established under Mike’s tenure, as we continue to strengthen our platform and expand the opportunities we bring to clients,” he added.

“It has been my immense privilege to lead this Company since its inception. I am incredibly proud of what this team has built and grateful to the clients and partners who have been critical to our success,” Michael Tiedemann said in his farewell note.

Reacting to her appointment as the interim CEO, Nancy Curtin said, “I am honoured to step into the role of Interim CEO at this important juncture in AlTi’s growth trajectory. Over the past several years, AlTi has sharpened its strategic focus while maintaining a relentless commitment to excellence within the ultra-high-net-worth space. Given the strength of our institutional-quality platform, we will also continue to expand our offering to foundations and endowments globally. Our core business remains highly differentiated for the clients we serve, and I look forward to partnering with our tremendous team globally to build on this momentum.”

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Following its acquisition of AXA Investment Managers in June 2025, BNP Paribas Asset Management now manages over 1.6 trillion euro, covering all asset classes and operating with varied strategies and distribution approaches. The acquisition was done to make the BNP Paribas Group the leading manager of long-term savings for insurers and pension funds in Europe, in addition to fulfilling goals like excelling in private asset fund collection and becoming one of Europe’s top providers of exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

By integrating the expertise of AXA IM, BNP Paribas Asset Management, and BNP Paribas REIM, the new platform now offers a diverse range of traditional and alternative assets, enhanced global distribution and improved innovation capabilities.

“The business intends to use the group’s integrated model, including origination and a broad distribution network, and maintains established positions in alternatives, long-term savings, and ETFs. The new strategy centres on four areas: broadening its presence in alternatives, expanding active management and ETFs, growing insurance and institutional partnerships, and increasing its retail and wealth management footprint,” reported Private Banker International.

BNP Paribas’ asset management targets also include more than 5% annual growth in assets under management, along with ensuring a revenue growth of around 4% per year from 2025 to 2030. It further plans to keep operating expenses steady during this timeframe, aiming for a cost/income ratio below 60% by the end of 2030.

According to BNP Paribas Asset Management’s roadmap, its pre-tax income is projected to nearly double by 2030 compared with expected 2025 levels, while Return on Notional Equity is expected to rise from 48% in 2025 to over 65% by 2030. The company expects approximately 150 million euro in revenue synergies and 400 million euro in cost synergies by 2029 through steps such as fund consolidation, platform integration, and efficiency improvements.

While stating about the venture’s plans to use AI across its investment processes and client service operations, BNP Paribas Asset Management CEO Sandro Pierri told the Private Banker International, “BNP Paribas Asset Management is entering a new phase of transformation and growth driven by structurally supportive trends on savings and investments. With our 2030 Strategic Plan, our ambition is to strengthen our position as one of the most powerful European investment platforms.”

“By combining quality and scale across public and private markets and the strength of the BNP Paribas ecosystem, we are uniquely positioned to connect savers and investors with all the opportunities of the real economy. Our mission is clear: deliver sustainable and resilient results for our clients while helping finance the economic transitions shaping the future,” Sandro Pierri concluded.

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Islamic funds are expected to remain the dominant category. However, the AMI remains exposed to oil-price sensitivity, local, regional and global market volatility and geopolitical risks. Equity-linked fee and performance income was weighed down by a circa 13% yoy fall in equity market capitalisation by the end of August 2025.

“Saudi Arabia’s AMI is on a steady growth path, supported by ongoing reforms and deeper local capital markets. Sharia-compliant funds remain the majority, with product breadth widening across areas such as new IPOs, sukuk and bonds, ETFs and private credit. New initiatives, such as voluntary pension and savings schemes, should enhance access and liquidity. Although market volatility and oil-price sensitivity pose near-term risks, foreign participation is rising and Saudi sukuk largely carry investment-grade ratings, supporting resilience,” said Bashar Al Natoor, Global Head of Islamic Finance at Fitch Ratings.

Fitch Ratings further reported that PIF’s recent MoUs with global asset managers such as BlackRock, Franklin Templeton, Neuberger Berman, and Northern Trust Asset Management would amount to about USD 12 billion and facilitate foreign capital and expertise inflows.

The share of Saudi bank-affiliated asset managers was 63.5%, while international and regional institutions rose to about 15%, it said. At the end of Q1 25, the industry AUM grew 21% yoy to USD 306.1 billion, with about half in private funds, followed by discretionary portfolio management, and public funds.

“The government aims for AUM to reach 31% of GDP in 2025 and 40% by 2030, from about 23% in 1H25. Foreign investors held 7.6% of government local debt issuances in June 2025 (2023: 5.2%),” the report noted further.

Talking about the steady emergence of Saudi Arabia’s AMI industry, a recent report from S&P Global Ratings predicted the Kingdom’s total AUM to surpass USD 500 billion by 2030, while citing factors like continuous regulatory reforms, development of debt and equity markets, increasing availability of exchange-traded funds (ETFs), real estate investment trusts (REITs), and various other retail and institutional products behind the phenomenon.

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Due to the expanding investor base, favourable demographics, continuous reforms, deepening capital markets, and digital transformation initiatives, the industry is anticipated to see consistent inflows in 2025–2026, with AUM expected to surpass SAR1.3 trillion (USD 350 billion).

Global fluctuations, like those brought on by the United States government’s tariff hikes on April 2, can still affect the market. One of the main elements that could have an impact on the sector is changes in the price of oil.

Bashar Al Natoor, Global Head of Islamic Finance at Fitch, said, “Saudi Arabia’s asset management industry is the largest in the GCC, with AUM having crossed SAR1 trillion, and further growth expected. Almost all mutual funds listed on the Saudi Exchange are sharia-compliant, indicating strong demand for Islamic products.”

Asset managers connected to Saudi banks accounted for almost two-thirds of industry revenue. Nonetheless, global competition is intensifying.

The establishment of regional headquarters in Saudi Arabia in 2024 was approved by regulators for BlackRock, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Citigroup, and Mizuho Bank.

In October 2024, an earlier report by Fitch noted that growth in 2025 would be further supported by a rising number of high-net-worth individuals seeking asset management services within the Kingdom.

Fitch now sees international competition likely intensifying as global players such as BlackRock, Goldman Sachs, and Morgan Stanley, as well as Citigroup and Mizuho Bank, have received regulatory approval to establish regional headquarters in the Kingdom.

According to Fitch’s report, by 2030, the government wants the industry’s AUM to account for 40% of GDP (2024: 26%).

Discretionary portfolio management (DPM) and public funds accounted for about half of the industry’s AUM, with private funds coming in second.

Real estate and stocks make up the majority of the private funds’ AUM. Local shares make up around half of AUM under DPM. It said that money market funds, stocks, REITs, and debt instruments make up a portion of the AUM of public funds. The Fitch analysis also highlighted that around half of Saudi Arabia’s AUM is held in private funds, followed by discretionary portfolio management and public funds.

The Saudi Exchange dominated the GCC listed equity markets, which at the end of 2024 had a combined capitalisation of over USD 4 trillion.

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