By Asset Allocator Journal Staff
According to Advisor Perspectives, Raymond James is making a strategic investment in a new wealth management platform. The initiative aims to modernize advisor and client experiences by emphasizing personalization, scalability, and cloud-native infrastructure. The firm plans to collaborate with several technology partners and expects broader rollout by 2026.
The Financial Times reports that Amazon is committing £40 billion to expanding operations in the UK through 2040. The investment includes new fulfillment centers, upgrades to Pinewood Studios, and continued AI development. Amazon says the initiative will support over 18,000 full-time roles and contribute to regional economies.
WealthManagement.com details RFG Advisory’s debut of a new suite of active ETFs with $6.5 billion in backing. These ETFs will target U.S. equities and fixed income, with built-in tax optimization and active management overlay. The firm emphasizes aligning offerings with advisor and client demand for more flexible investment vehicles.
Business Matters reports that HM Revenue & Customs, the UK government’s tax, payments and customs authority, has intensified efforts to pursue high earners in a record tax crackdown. A £1.5 billion haul was recovered in the latest tax year, with a focus on affluent individuals, offshore income, and complex avoidance schemes. The agency credits enhanced data tools and enforcement strategies.
AQR Capital is launching a new series of U.S. mutual funds based on its levered long-short strategies, according to Advisor Perspectives. These products aim to replicate hedge fund exposures within a regulated structure and include equity market-neutral and global macro variants. AQR views the launch as timely given evolving investor needs.
Business Matters notes that the UK government will phase out the sale of Israeli goods and imports from “countries of concern” at Co-op stores. The supermarket chain cited ethical sourcing and political considerations, particularly in the context of international human rights. Implementation timelines and specific product categories remain under review.
The Financial Times highlights that the Big Four accounting firms are scaling back graduate hiring in response to AI-driven operational shifts. Automation of audit and compliance functions has reduced demand for entry-level roles, particularly in the UK. This trend reflects broader cost-cutting measures and technology adoption across the sector.
Per MedTech Dive, Moon Surgical has brought in three senior executives, including a new VP of engineering and a chief commercial officer, to support its robot-assisted surgical device expansion. The appointments follow the company’s securing of FDA breakthrough device designation, signaling a strategic build‑out of leadership ahead of planned technology commercialization.
