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JPMorgan Chase has finalized the acquisition of WealthOS, a United Kingdom based financial technology firm specializing in cloud native infrastructure for the wealth management sector. The deal aims to strengthen the bank’s retail wealth management capabilities by integrating advanced pensions and retirement planning technology into its existing digital offerings. As part of the transition, the entire WealthOS workforce of sixty employees will join the JPMorgan Personal Investing division to support the ongoing modernization of its international consumer banking stack. WealthOS provides a modular software as a service platform that allows financial institutions to launch digital wealth products significantly faster and at a lower operational cost than traditional legacy systems. Its technology specifically automates complex backend processes such as pension drawdown administration, tax wrapper management, and regulatory reporting for accounts like Self Invested Personal Pensions. By adopting this infrastructure, JPMorgan can streamline account management and provide more responsive digital experiences for its growing base of retail investors and advisory clients. The strategic acquisition follows the recent rebranding of the digital wealth manager Nutmeg into JPMorgan Personal Investing as the firm seeks to scale its presence in the competitive British wealth market. This integration is particularly relevant for the broader industry as it highlights the increasing necessity for API first architectures to replace aging middle and back office systems. For platforms and integrators, the move underscores a shift toward agile, cloud based operating systems that can support holistic financial planning and rapid product innovation in a shifting regulatory landscape. Knote: JPM is driving hard at the UK personal investing market. WealthOS has what we consider to be the most advanced system of handling SIPPs (Self-Invested Personal Pensions), which is a tax wrapper that basically creates what we know in the US as an IRA. We believe this acquisition gets JPM to market at least 3-5 years quicker and is a great example of how a large institution can use strategic acquisitions of clean technology to win. We continue to believe the real opportunity for self-directed investing is in India, but with the entire WealthOS dev team in Sri Lanka, maybe this gets JPM closer. https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/jpmorgan-buys-uk-pensions-technology-firm-wealthos-memo-shows-2026-01-22/

Nationwide Welcomes New Leaders, Income Lab Launches AI Scribe Insurance and financial services: Nationwide appointed new technology and distribution leaders while Income Lab introduced an AI tool for automated retirement planning. Significance: These developments highlight the accelerating integration of artificial intelligence and specialized leadership to enhance advisor productivity and client retention. Read More OneDigital Introduces Private Investments Within Personalized Portfolios for Defined Contribution Plans Insurance and benefit firm: OneDigital integrated private equity and credit strategies into advisor-managed 401(k) portfolios through partnerships with global asset managers. Significance: This move democratizes institutional-quality alternative investments for retail retirement savers while maintaining fiduciary oversight and liquidity standards. Read More Schwab Plans to Ramp Up, Expand RIA Lending Options for Clients Financial services giant: Charles Schwab is significantly expanding its lending and banking capabilities to help independent advisors compete with major wirehouses. Significance: By increasing access to liquidity for ultra-high-net-worth clients, Schwab aims to drive asset consolidation and support RIA fiduciary independence. Read More DOL, White House Near Release of Proposed 401(k) Alts Rule Federal regulatory agency: The Department of Labor submitted a proposed rule to facilitate the inclusion of private equity and other alternative investments in 401(k) plans. Significance: The rule aims to provide a clear regulatory framework for fiduciaries, though it faces scrutiny over transparency and high fees. Knote: The OMB typically has 90 days to complete their review but can ask for a 30-day extension if they feel they need it. Then a 60-day public comment period, so it could be a summer event. I’m guessing due diligence is going to be a big thing in this initiative. Entrepreneurs might want to put their thinking caps on as to how they could solve that problem. Read More Edelman Moves to Orion for Tech Stack Independent wealth management firm: Edelman Financial Engines transitioned its $308 billion technology infrastructure from Envestnet to Orion’s comprehensive wealth management suite. Significance: This major transition reflects a strategic shift to better integrate internal systems and enhance the digital client experience under new leadership. Read More Flanks and FinReg360 launch EDX: Europe’s first standardized financial data exchange protocol Financial data providers: Flanks and FinReg360 introduced EDX, a standardized protocol to unify financial position data exchange across the European wealth management sector. Significance: This initiative reduces manual workloads and operational costs, moving Europe closer to a fully integrated open finance ecosystem. Knote : Bravissimo! This has been a problem for a while in Europe. Hopefully, it gets fully adopted, and also hopefully, it accommodates alternative investments. Read More Groww steps up wealth play via MF and portfolio management solutions Indian fintech platform: Groww is launching new mutual fund and portfolio management solutions to transition from a discount broker to a full-service wealth manager. Significance: The expansion targets higher-value investors and intensifies competition with traditional wealth managers through technology-driven advisory services. Read More Feel free to reach out if you want to discuss any of the above or if you just want to chat about WealthTech. We love talking WealthTech! If you want to Subscribe and receive these sorts of insights directly, click subscribe

Donachie, P. (2026, January 16). DOL, White House Near Release of Proposed 401(k) Alts Rule. WealthManagement.com . https://www.wealthmanagement.com/regulation-compliance/dol-white-house-near-release-of-proposed-401k-alts-rule The U.S. Department of Labor has submitted a proposed rule to the White House Office of Management and Budget intended to facilitate the inclusion of alternative investments in 401(k) plans. Titled “Fiduciary Duties in Selecting Designated Investment Alternatives,” the proposal follows a 2025 executive order aimed at expanding access to private equity, real estate, and cryptocurrency within retirement accounts. The rule seeks to provide a clearer regulatory framework for plan fiduciaries who have historically avoided illiquid assets due to potential litigation risks and complex ERISA standards. Proponents of the measure argue that retail investors require access to private markets to achieve better diversification and capture returns as fewer companies choose to remain public. SEC leadership has signaled support for the initiative while advocating for litigation reforms to protect plan sponsors from lawsuits related to alternative investment performance. Critics, including prominent Democratic lawmakers, have expressed concerns regarding the transparency, high fees, and general suitability of complex private market products for average retirement savers. Once the Office of Management and Budget completes its review, the proposal will be released for a 60-day public comment period before moving toward finalization. Knote: The OMB typically has 90 days to complete their review but can ask for a 30-day extension if they feel they need it. Then a 60-day public comment period, so it could be a summer event. I’m guessing due diligence is going to be a big thing in this initiative. Entrepreneurs might want to put their thinking caps on as to how they could solve that problem.

Umpierrez, A. (2026, January 16). Nationwide welcomes new leaders, Income Lab launches AI Scribe . 401(k) Specialist. https://401kspecialistmag.com/nationwide-welcomes-new-leaders-income-lab-launches-ai-scribe/ ·       Nationwide Financial has appointed Misty Kuamoo as Chief Technology Officer to lead technology solutions and accelerate the integration of artificial intelligence. ·       Suzanne Ricklin has been named the leader of Distribution for Nationwide Retirement Solutions to manage growth and retention for retirement clients. ·       Income Lab launched AI Scribe, an artificial intelligence tool that transforms live client conversations from virtual meetings into comprehensive retirement plans. ·       The AI Scribe application captures data during Zoom sessions to generate meeting summaries and draft plans for immediate advisor review. ·       This new capability expands Income Lab's suite of automated tools, which includes the previously released AI Plan Builder and AI Assistant. ·       PensionBee and SS&C Technologies expanded their partnership to streamline 401(k) rollovers through the automated RolloverCentral platform. ·       The collaboration between Income Lab and industry researchers focused on removing administrative friction while ensuring financial advisors maintain control over the planning process.

The Economic Times. (2026, January 21). Groww steps up wealth play via MF and portfolio management solutions . https://m.economictimes.com/tech/technology/groww-steps-up-wealth-play-via-mf-and-portfolio-management-solutions/amp_articleshow/126660009.cms ·       Groww is expanding its wealth management services by launching new mutual fund and portfolio management solutions to capture higher-value investors. ·       The company aims to transition from a discount brokerage to a comprehensive wealth management platform for Indian retail investors. ·       This expansion includes the introduction of sophisticated investment products tailored for affluent users seeking professional portfolio management. ·       Groww’s diversification strategy focuses on increasing its assets under management by leveraging its existing large user base of active traders. ·       The fintech firm is intensifying competition with traditional wealth managers by integrating technology-driven advisory services. ·       Market analysts suggest that this shift towards premium services will help the platform improve its overall revenue margins and user retention. ·       The company continues to navigate regulatory compliance while scaling its digital-first investment ecosystem across different asset classes.

OneDigital. (2026, January 20). OneDigital introduces private investments within personalized portfolios for defined contribution plans . https://www.onedigital.com/blog/onedigital-introduces-private-investments-within-personalized-portfolios-for-defined-contribution-plans/   ·       OneDigital has integrated private equity, private credit, and opportunistic investment strategies into its Personalized Portfolio program for 401(k) plan sponsors. ·       The firm established strategic partnerships with leading global asset managers including Apollo, Ares, and Blackstone to facilitate these institutional-quality offerings. ·       These private market strategies are embedded within advisor-managed portfolios to improve diversification while adhering to strict liquidity and fiduciary standards. ·       The program aims to provide retail retirement savers with access to investment tools that have traditionally been reserved for large institutional investors. ·       OneDigital’s internal investment team provides ongoing oversight and rigorous due diligence for all private market allocations within the program. ·       Collective Investment Trusts incorporating these private investments are expected to be available for eligible plan sponsors starting in the current quarter. ·       Plan sponsors retain full discretion regarding the implementation of these strategies to ensure alignment with specific workforce demographics and risk tolerances.

Flanks. (2026, January 16). Flanks and FinReg360 launch EDX: Europe’s first standardised financial data exchange protocol . https://www.flanks.io/articles/flanks-and-finreg360-launch-edx-europes-first-standardised-financial-data-exchange-protocol Flanks and FinReg360 have introduced EDX as Europe's first standardized protocol for the exchange of financial position data. The EDX initiative aims to eliminate systemic fragmentation in the European wealth management sector by establishing a unified communication framework. This new protocol facilitates the secure and automated transfer of information regarding portfolios, pensions, insurance, and alternative assets. By streamlining data exchange between custodians and wealth managers, EDX significantly reduces manual reconciliation workloads and operational costs. The partnership leverages Flanks' technological infrastructure and FinReg360's regulatory expertise to ensure comprehensive compliance and data privacy. EDX is built on open standards to promote broader industry adoption and improve transparency within the financial advisory process. This launch marks a critical step toward a more integrated and digitally advanced open finance ecosystem across the European Union. Knote: Bravissimo! This has been a problem for a while in Europe. Hopefully, it gets fully adopted, and also hopefully, it accommodates alternative investments.

Ortolani, A. (2026, January 21). Schwab plans to ramp up, expand RIA lending options for clients . Wealth Management. https://www.wealthmanagement.com/ria-news/schwab-plans-to-ramp-up-expand-ria-lending-capabilities-to-clients ·       Charles Schwab CEO Rick Wurster announced plans to significantly increase lending capabilities for registered investment advisors (RIAs) to better compete with wirehouse banking services. ·       The expansion is driven by direct feedback from advisors who identified more robust banking and lending options as their primary request for the custodial platform. ·       Schwab’s Pledged Asset Line, which allows clients to borrow against non-retirement assets, serves as the foundation for this growth following an 85% increase in originations over the past year. ·       Ultra-high-net-worth clients are a specific target for these enhanced loan opportunities, as only 9% of this segment currently utilizes Schwab’s existing lending products. ·       The firm intends to leverage its banking capabilities to support the fiduciary independence of RIAs while providing them the tools to match the integrated service models of large Wall Street rivals. ·       Management suggested that increasing access to liquidity through lending will attract more net new assets and encourage high-net-worth clients to consolidate their holdings at Schwab. ·       The company is considering long-term mergers and acquisitions to further broaden its service offerings and private market liquidity options for both RIA and retail clients.

Ortolani, A. (2026, January 22). Edelman moves to Orion for tech stack . Wealth Management. https://www.wealthmanagement.com/financial-technology/edelman-financial-engines-moves-to-orion-for-wealth-tech ·       Edelman Financial Engines has transitioned its entire technology stack to Orion after maintaining an eight-year relationship with rival provider Envestnet. ·       The registered investment advisor currently manages over $308 billion in assets and supports a network of more than 370 financial planners. ·       Orion will provide a comprehensive suite of tools including portfolio management, trading, data sharing, and advisor engagement platforms. ·       This technology shift follows a leadership change in October where Ralph Haberli succeeded Jay Shah as the firm's Chief Executive Officer. ·       Edelman executives stated that the move to Orion aims to better integrate internal systems and enhance the digital experience for their clients. ·       The transition represents a significant market win for Orion, which currently oversees approximately $5.8 trillion in assets under administration. ·       Majority owners Hellman & Friedman and minority stakeholder Warburg Pincus continue to oversee the firm’s strategic direction alongside founder Ric Edelman.

Your weekly guide to interesting happenings in WealthTech globally. In this issue, commentary on the following: DOL, White House Near Release of Proposed 401(k) Alts Rule  Edelman Moves to Orion for Tech Stack  Flanks and FinReg360 launch EDX: Europe’s first standardized financial data exchange protocol  Groww steps up wealth play via MF and portfolio management solutions  Nationwide Welcomes New Leaders, Income Lab Launches AI Scribe  OneDigital Introduces Private Investments Within Personalized Portfolios for Defined Contribution Plans  Schwab Plans to Ramp Up, Expand RIA Lending Options for Clients  Download full report:

Wint Wealth has raised $27 million in a Series B funding round as it looks to expand access to fixed income products for India’s growing base of retail investors. The company focuses on structuring and distributing yield-oriented and asset-backed fixed income opportunities that have historically been difficult for individuals to access. The new capital will be used to support product expansion, strengthen platform capabilities, and scale operations as the company grows its role in India’s retail bond market.  The funding comes as individual investors show increasing interest in fixed income products that offer more predictable returns and portfolio diversification. Wint Wealth positions itself as core infrastructure for retail fixed income by simplifying onboarding, improving transparency, and standardizing access to products that were previously fragmented and opaque. Its platform is designed to serve both investors and issuers by reducing friction and enabling more efficient capital raising.  The raise also reflects a broader shift across financial services toward technology-driven infrastructure and data-intensive platforms. As global financial hubs such as Dubai invest heavily in data center capacity to support digital economies, wealth platforms are similarly prioritizing scalability, reliability, and compliance. For companies like Wint Wealth, the combination of capital, technology, and infrastructure is increasingly essential to meeting investor expectations and supporting the next phase of wealth creation. Link to Article

AssetPlus has raised $19.5 million in a growth funding round led by Nexus Venture Partners with participation from existing investors Eight Roads Ventures and Rainmatter. The Chennai-based company operates a digital infrastructure platform that serves over 18,000 mutual fund distributors across India. This capital infusion follows a previous funding round and will be used to deepen the company technology stack and broaden its product offerings. While mutual fund distribution remains the core focus, AssetPlus has expanded into health and term insurance, fixed deposits, and retirement products. The company plans to introduce portfolio management services and global investment options within the next six months to provide a more comprehensive system for its partners. This transaction highlights the continuing momentum within the Asian wealth management sector and specifically the Indian market. AssetPlus provides the technology for mutual fund distributors who utilize the platform to manage over $860 million in assets for approximately 150,000 retail investors. Link to Article