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Written by: Nigel Green | deVere Group
Boutique advisory firms have long held appeal. Their strengths—personalisation, relationship continuity, and specialist knowledge—are well documented. But the expectations of clients are evolving rapidly.
As financial lives grow more complex, integrated, and international, a different kind of advisory firm is rising to meet the moment.
Clients no longer want fragmented answers to interconnected problems. They don’t want to juggle three or four advisors, each with only part of the picture.
They want strategy, execution, and foresight, delivered in a coordinated and consistent way. They want their advisor to understand not only investments, but also the implications of tax, lending, banking, insurance, real estate, succession, and regulatory exposure.
This is where large, full-spectrum firms have an increasingly clear advantage.
Their global infrastructure, access to talent, and breadth of services now allow them to deliver deeply personal advice at scale. And they are doing so without losing the core value that clients want most: trust.
It’s a mistake to assume this shift is only relevant to internationally mobile clients. While the ability to advise across jurisdictions is certainly a competitive edge, it is just one part of the story.
Domestic clients with sophisticated financial lives are also seeking more comprehensive support. Entrepreneurs, professionals, and high-net-worth families are looking for an integrated service model that can address everything from retirement income planning to business exits, family governance, and intergenerational wealth strategies.
Boutique firms, by their nature, tend to excel in one or two areas. But they often struggle when clients need joined-up thinking across multiple domains.
Large advisory groups are increasingly structured to deliver just that. A client, for instance, may need strategic tax structuring, reinvestment planning, insurance for new liabilities, and FX support for global diversification. The ability to offer that within a single firm is not just efficient; it builds confidence and cohesion.
Another clear differentiator is tech. Large firms are now using advanced digital platforms to enhance—not replace—the advisor-client relationship. These platforms allow clients to view their financial lives holistically, with live data on investments, liabilities, estate plans, and cash flow. They make it possible for advisors to deliver faster, more informed recommendations, backed by insights that reflect the client’s full situation.
Importantly, these tools are not about automation for its own sake. They’re about precision, visibility, and empowering both client and advisor with the right information at the right time.
Clients expect this level of clarity now. They don’t want delayed reporting or advice based on fragmented spreadsheets. They want transparency and control, and they want to feel that their advisor is operating with a complete, current view.
Stability is another factor driving clients to larger firms. In an environment where political, regulatory, and economic conditions are changing quickly, scale offers reassurance. Clients want to know their advisor is backed by rigorous compliance, strong governance, and a robust operating framework. They want continuity in uncertain times, and they want confidence that their strategy is being reviewed by multiple specialists with the right expertise.
Of course, the human element remains essential. This isn’t a story about algorithms taking over relationships.
In fact, what defines the best full-service firms is their ability to combine personal service with institutional capability. They embed niche experts into broader client teams. They train advisors to think holistically. And they invest in systems that ensure advice is consistent, responsive, and tailored—even as the client’s needs evolve.
This is not to suggest that boutique firms are irrelevant. For clients with simpler needs, or those seeking a relationship based on long-standing personal ties, they may still offer a strong fit. But for the growing majority whose financial lives span multiple dimensions, the offering from global firms is becoming harder to ignore.
Today’s clients don’t just want someone who understands the markets. They want someone who understands them—across every part of their financial life—and who has the tools and network to act accordingly.
In many ways, the boutique-versus-big narrative is outdated. The most successful global firms are no longer trying to replicate the boutique model. They’ve evolved past it.
They now offer the same level of personalisation, with the added advantage of breadth, security, and global fluency.
As financial complexity becomes the norm, not the exception, clients are increasingly turning to firms that reflect that reality. The future of advice is not just about being personal. It’s about being capable.