An Advisor’s Guide to 2026: What 2025 Set in Motion and What Comes Next

With Jason Diamond and Louis Diamond

Overview

As 2026 comes into focus, advisors face a new set of strategic questions. This Industry Update explores the forces reshaping growth, deal structures, and enterprise value—and what those shifts may signal for the new year and beyond.

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NOTE: The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Diamond Consultants. Neither Diamond Consultants nor the guests on this podcast are compensated in any way for their participation.

About this episode…

Over the last year, we’ve seen meaningful shifts in how advisors think about growth, long-term strategy, and enterprise-value creation. Some of those changes were obvious. Others were quieter, but no less consequential.

And with 2025 in the rearview mirror, the real question becomes: What does it all mean for the year ahead?

Before this recording, we published our annual Of Myths and Moving article—a retrospective look at the narratives that shaped advisor decision-making in 2025. This conversation builds on that foundation, but with a different objective: to share perspectives on what the road ahead may look like.

Listen in as Jason and Louis discuss:

• The most prominent developments from 2025—and those we believe will continue to compound and serve as inflection points for advisors and firms.
• Evolving deal structures—and what that means for advisors considering change.
• The business models under increasing pressure—and where we expect the most advisor movement to come from next.
• Creative capital constructs—and how it may impact the movement of top teams.
• The realities around growth and scale—and how expectations are shifting across the industry.
• The role of tech and AI—and whether advisors and firms will see advancements as