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Today’s investment landscape is defined by volatility, geopolitical shockwaves and ongoing technological advancements. Tariffs, inflation and international conflict are actively shaping client portfolios and outcomes. At the recent FT Wealth Management Asia conference, held in Singapore and themed “Safeguarding private clients in a disrupted world,” financial professionals gathered to dissect these challenges. This post reflects the themes discussed.
The first panel of the event was Grappling with geopolitics – Hedging against economic shifts and currency swings, moderated by Owen Walker, Singapore Correspondent for the Financial Times. The panelists included some of Asia’s most influential wealth management leaders: Shafali Sachdev, Head of Investment Services Asia at BNP Paribas Wealth Management; Jean Chia, Global Chief Investment Officer at Bank of Singapore; and Steve Brice, Global Chief Investment Officer at Standard Chartered. Offering a crucial, data-driven perspective was Addepar’s Chief Technology Officer, Bob Pisani.
Addepar sits at a unique intersection, providing a foundational data and AI platform for financial professionals globally. With over $9 trillion in assets on the platform, and clients in 60 countries, Addepar has become a window into the world's investment behavior and how it's being shaped by global events.
What investor data reveals about their behavior
Moderator Owen Walker started the discussion by tapping into Addepar's global insights, asking Bob Pisani to set the scene for how the wealth industry has been reacting to the current geopolitical climate. Bob noted a shift in investor sentiment, particularly in early 2026. He observed that investors are operating in a “very noise-heavy environment,” and they are looking at many factors from both public and private investment perspectives, including currency exposure and industry allocations. Some insights from data on our platform include:
Incremental adjustments: First quarter activity on the platform suggests a deliberate approach, with gradual portfolio repositioning.
Resurgent dollar demand: Non-U.S. investors trimmed USD exposure to 37% by year-end 2025, but allocations rose back to 47% by March 2026 as demand for liquidity increased in response to geopolitical escalation.
AI exposure: Both U.S. and non-U.S investors are overweight in tech and AI, including AI-integrated systems used in defense technology. That overweight positioning continues YTD in 2026.
A total portfolio view in times of volatility
When markets are volatile, the immediate concern for clients is understanding their risk and exposure. This is why the ability to see the total portfolio view is paramount. As Bob Pisani emphasized, “We have seen a significant increase in platform usage since the Iran conflict began. Our clients want to understand their exposure and risks to any number of different factors, and that starts with having all of your data in one place.”
This sentiment was echoed by the wealth management panelists who spoke directly to the need for a holistic portfolio view, advising clients to return to foundational principles when managing market events. For complex, multi-asset portfolios, especially those with illiquid or alternative holdings, which comprise over 40% of the $9T+ assets on the Addepar platform, a holistic view is the only way to manage risk effectively.
Panelists say they are looking at a wide range of diversification strategies including infrastructure, base metals, gold, hedge funds and private credit when managed by top-tier managers. They see these as key areas for inflation protection and long-term returns. Pisani adds, “Most investors on our platform aren’t reacting to inflation, rather they’re baking it into their assumptions and asset allocations. Their approach is thoughtful and data-informed.”
The complexity of modern portfolios, especially the need to track assets across various geographies, currencies and asset classes, reinforces the need for a unified platform. Having unparalleled data clarity and control allows investment professionals to move beyond operational firefighting and toward confident, data-backed decisions.
Forecasting liquidity to avoid idle cash
A client's first instinct is often to de-risk by moving capital to cash. While this feels like a safe haven for clients, the panelists strongly cautioned against it. One panelist pointed out the psychological impact of holding onto cash in a shock to the markets, saying their clients often substantially underestimate the amount of cash already held in their portfolios. While clients estimate 5-10% of the portfolio is in cash, the reality is often closer to 25%-30%.
As Pisani confirmed from the Addepar perspective, this emotional reaction runs contrary to the methodical, long-term outlook of sophisticated investors on Addepar. “Our forecasting solution gives wealth managers the ability to show their clients different scenarios and the importance of liquidity forecasting to avoid cash drag.”
By using dynamic models to project cash flows and portfolio value, advisors can clearly demonstrate to their clients the opportunity cost of cash allocations — which can be substantial — and the benefits of deploying that capital strategically.
Planning is the new alpha
The key takeaway from the panel is that while the world faces uncertainty, a pathway to safeguarding client wealth is through structured, data-driven modeling, planning and forecasting. The most sophisticated investors use technology to separate market noise from fundamental opportunities. Addepar empowers firms to build the portfolio flexibility and confidence necessary to stay the course and seize opportunities while others are scrambling to react.