Asset Allocation Trends 2026: Australia

This report explores the asset allocation landscape in Australia in 2026, covering key drivers such as economic growth, geopolitical uncertainty, and structural forces. It examines the investment preferences of Australian individuals ranging from mass market to HNW, as well as key trends and developments such as demand for tokenized assets, the evolving role of ESG, and ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The report concludes with a chapter providing guidance on how to target a range of Australian investor types.

Australian retail investment growth is expected to moderate after a strong post-2020 rebound, with investors shifting towards more balanced and income-oriented portfolios as persistent inflation, geopolitical uncertainty, and a more volatile market environment weigh on investor sentiment. Equities remain the largest retail investment asset class, with holdings forecast to grow at a slower but still solid pace.

Report Scope

• HNW investors remain best positioned to drive growth and deploy capital opportunistically, while mass segments face constraints as inflationary pressures hit.
• Heightened market uncertainty and increasingly complex investment conditions are driving stronger demand for professional advice, with managed mandates continuing to gain share among Australian HNW investors.
• The mass affluent segment represents a major opportunity for wealth managers, sitting at the key transition point between cash-heavy savings behavior and more diversified, advice-led investment portfolios.

Reasons to Buy

• Learn how economic concerns and resulting market upheaval have affected investment behavior in Australia.
• Understand investment trends and adjust your service proposition based on a detailed understanding of investment preferences across different wealth tiers.
• Understand how to best promote investment products in Australia by learning what is driving investment choices in the market.
• Learn how and why investment preferences will change over the next 12 months.
• Understand the effect increased volatility can have on investor behavior and how to minimize the risk of customers changing providers.
• Give your marketing strategies the edge required and capture new clients using insights from our data on HNW investment drivers.