For many advice firms, platform selection was once largely an operational decision.

 

In 2026, it’s increasingly a board-level one.

 

Consumer Duty, margin pressure, rising client expectations, and growing operational complexity mean firms are now expected to evidence not just which platforms they use, but why those choices continue to deliver good client outcomes.

 

At the same time, the platform market itself is evolving rapidly.

 

Consolidation is accelerating. Technology expectations are rising. AI is moving from experimentation into real operational workflows. And advisers are demanding stronger integrations between platforms, CRMs, planning tools, and back-office systems.

 

Against that backdrop, one question is becoming more common in leadership meetings:

 

 

That’s exactly why the UK Advisers Investment Platform Research Report 2026 was created.

 

This independently produced 136-page research guide by The Catt’s Eye View examines the UK intermediary platform market in detail, covering platform pricing, service ratings, financial strength, Consumer Duty considerations, CRM integrations, AI adoption, and platform-by-platform due diligence across leading providers including Fidelity International, Quilter, Transact, AJ Bell, Fundment, Aegon, M&G plc, and Nucleus Financial Platforms.  

 

 

Whether your firm uses one platform or several, five questions are becoming increasingly important:

 

A platform that worked for accumulation clients five years ago may not support today’s retirement income needs.

 

Manual work, duplicate data entry, and inconsistent reporting often hide real costs.

 

Platforms that connect cleanly with systems like Intelliflo, Xplan, or Salesforce can create major efficiency gains.  

 

AI, workflow automation, API connectivity, and digital servicing are increasingly separating market leaders from followers.  

 

Consumer Duty has made platform governance an ongoing responsibility - not a one-off exercise.

 

The firms that answer these questions well are often the firms building stronger, more scalable advice businesses.

 

If your business is reviewing its platform strategy in 2026, or simply wants an independent benchmark of where the market is heading then email Tony Catt on hello@thecattseyeview.co.uk to request a copy of the UK Advisers Investment Platform Research Report 2026.