The role of investment consultants is rapidly evolving.
Gone are the days when value was defined by access to information alone. Today’s clients expect sharper insights, faster turnaround, and more strategic guidance—all while navigating an increasingly complex investment landscape. Regulatory activity has also surged, with more than 300 major changes issued annually. That’s a fivefold increase over the past decade, according to Thomson Reuters Regulatory Intelligence.
Consultants are being asked to do more with less: more asset classes, more reporting requirements, more data, and more stakeholders. And they must do so with lean teams and tighter margins. The squeeze is real across the investment ecosystem. In fact, 61% of asset managers have reported hiring freezes or headcount reductions since 2020, according to Casey Quirk (a Deloitte business). For consultants, OCIOs, and advisors who rely on leaner teams to deliver higher value, the pressure to scale is just as intense. In 2025, the pressure isn’t just about being informed; it’s about being intelligent, integrated, and indispensable.
The shift from data collectors to intelligence connectors
For many firms, legacy tools and fragmented workflows are holding teams back. Hours spent digging through spreadsheets, chasing version control, and manually updating disparate systems are hours not spent delivering insight to clients.
The problem isn’t a lack of data; rather, it’s that the data is everywhere. In fact, investment professionals spend up to 30% of their time gathering, cleaning, or reconciling information across disconnected systems, according to the Institutional Investment Productivity Study conducted by Backstop and Mercer. Research teams need platforms that connect the dots, not just store them.
Modern consulting firms are starting to realize that:
- The real differentiator is connected intelligence, not data warehouses.
- Institutional knowledge must be centralized and searchable, not trapped in inboxes or point systems.
- Technology should amplify strategic work, not generate more busywork.
What matters most in 2025
Through our work with leading consulting firms, we’ve seen a pattern emerge: The firms thriving in today’s market are those that embrace transformation across three key areas.
Over the next few weeks, we’ll explore how forward-thinking consultants are reimagining their tech stack to enable:
- Connected intelligence: Moving from reactive data gathering to proactive, insight-led decision-making.
- Collaboration at scale: Enabling teams to work more effectively together by preserving institutional knowledge and streamlining workflows.
- Future-ready infrastructure: Building a foundation that supports integration, automation, and agility in an ever-changing market.
These aren’t just aspirations. They’re realities for firms that have transformed their operations to stay competitive and client-focused.
Coming soon
In our next post, we’ll dive into the first pillar: Connected intelligence. What does it mean, why does it matter, and how can leading consultants make it a reality?
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