Elliot Smither

London

Chief Sub Editor and Senior Writer at Professional Wealth Management

Financial journalist @FT_PWM, Everton fan, history nerd, cricket enthusiast and rugby nut to boot

Featured in: Favicon

pwmnet.com Favicon

ft.com

thebanker.com Favicon

fdiintelligence.com

Articles

Will Trump hasten the end of US dollar’s Golden Age?

2 weeks ago | pwmnet.com | Elliot Smither

Weakening US fundamentals and improved investor sentiment in Europe, combined with President Trump’s trade war, have led to questions being asked about the dollar’s durability. Donald Trump’s election in November 2024 initially drove the US dollar higher as the currency was supported by the prospect of higher tariffs and stimulus measures for the US economy.
The energy transition is bigger than one president

1 month ago | pwmnet.com | Thomas Brown |Jasper van Brakel |Gemma Livermore |Elliot Smither

Portfolio managers must increasingly be aware of geopolitical considerations and macroeconomic trends when constructing portfolios from energy companies. Donald Trump’s re-election to the White House might at first glance not seem an optimal outcome for investors in the transition to a more sustainable economy. Since taking office, the president has made clear his opposition to everything from energy-efficient lightbulbs to paper straws.
Geopolitical storm leaves richly priced US assets at risk

1 month ago | pwmnet.com | Beat Wittmann |Ali Al-Enazi |Yuri Bender |Elliot Smither

As Europe is confronted with the hostile stances of presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, it may be time to re-address portfolio allocation biases. US president Donald Trump has abandoned not only multilateralism but the Western alliance, its principles and values. This should not come as a surprise. He has always been clear about his one and only focus — US power, deals and money. The same goes for Russian leader Vladimir Putin, who is not seeking peace.
AI and impact investing: a powerful partnership or risky bet? - Professional Wealth Management

1 month ago | pwmnet.com | Elliot Smither

While AI can help figure out key metrics in impact investment, building data centres requires huge amounts of natural resources which can swing the balance in a negative direction.
Digitalisation key to wealth preservation for family offices

1 month ago | pwmnet.com | Elisa Trovato |Ali Al-Enazi |Elliot Smither

As the market for family office technology expands, those that resist digital transformation risk undermining the very legacy they strive to protect. Family offices, responsible for preserving multi-generational wealth, face mounting pressure to modernise. Many still rely on outdated tools, manual reporting, and fragmented data systems, leaving them vulnerable to inefficiency, security risks and succession challenges.
Gulf wealth managers prepare for consolidation in 2025

2 months ago | pwmnet.com | Mike Foster |Ali Al-Enazi |Julie Howard |Elliot Smither

Wealth advisers in the Gulf region, open to innovation and digitally driven financial offerings, are particularly attractive to global players looking for a regional foothold. Global wealth management is on the cusp of transformation, with consolidation emerging as a key trend for 2025. PwC has predicted that one in six wealth managers globally will be acquired or exit by 2027.
Year of the Snake may re-awaken Chinese animal spirits

2 months ago | pwmnet.com | Xiadong Bao |Ali Al-Enazi |Elliot Smither

With negative sentiment around deflation and geopolitics creating a $43tn market cap gap relative to the US, Beijing is hoping policy changes could still bear fruit. China is battling domestic deflation caused by its self-inflicted real estate meltdown, while preparing itself for harsher confrontation with the US under Trump 2.0.Sentiment has been poor.
Global Private Banking Awards 2025: Meet the judges

2 months ago | pwmnet.com | Yuri Bender |Elliot Smither

Gerard Aquilina,Founder, AquilinaAdvisoryBased in Athens, GreeceGerard has had a successful career spanning law, investment banking and wealth management and has held senior management positions at the global level at UBS, Barclays, HSBC and Merrill Lynch. He was most recently Representative in Monaco for Cone Marshall, an international law and fiduciary services firm specialising in succession planning and asset protection.
Swiss private banking and succession planning, Syz style: PWM Tea Break

2 months ago | pwmnet.com | Elliot Smither

Nicolas Syz, head of wealth management at Geneva's Syz Group, shares a cuppa with PWM's Yuri Bender and Ali Al-Enazi, discussing struggles of Swiss banks to differentiate and rebrand themselves, amidst geopolitical headwinds. Mr Syz, a former Swiss national bobsleigh champion, also talks about challenges and opportunities of heading wealth management at the bank, founded by his father Eric, in 1996.
Consolidate or capitulate: M&A in asset and wealth management

2 months ago | pwmnet.com | Mike Delano |Ali Al-Enazi |Yuri Bender |Elliot Smither

A high pressure business environment is leading to renewed consolidations among portfolio managers, with alternative assets particularly prized by acquirers. At the end of 2024, a €5.1bn ($5.3bn) deal for BNP Paribas to acquire Axa’s asset management business was confirmed. The acquisition, expected to be completed by mid-2025, will create one of Europe’s largest asset and wealth management (AWM) firms, with more than €1.5tn in assets under management (AuM).