www.wealthandfinance-news.com Q1 2026 What Are the Best IRA Custodians for Private Equity Investments? Why Breaking Up Big Tech Would Not Fix Innovation, According to Alok Sama Featuring:
AI Global Media, Ltd. (AI) takes reasonable measures to ensure the quality of the information on this web site. However, AI will not assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, correctness or completeness of any information that is available through this web site. If errors are brought to our attention, we will try to correct them. The information available through the website and our partner publications is for your general information and use and is not intended to address any particular finance or investment requirements. In particular, the information does not constitute any form of advice or recommendation by us or any of our partner publications and is not intended to be relied upon by users in making or refraining from making any investment or financial decisions. Appropriate independent advice should be obtained before making any such decision. Any arrangement made between you and any third party named in the site is at your sole risk and responsibility. Editor’s Letter Editorial Team Sofi Parry, Senior Editor | Joshua Beardsmore, Writer | Kita Thomas, Writer Design Team Emma Hunt, Creative Team Manager | Lauren Baldwin, Graphic Designer Welcome to the Q1 edition of Wealth & Finance International Magazine. As always, with every issue we endeavour to provide fund managers, alongside institutional and private investors with the very latest industry news in the traditional and alternative investment spheres. From accounting expertise to agentic operating systems for mortgage origination, private equity investment solutions to AI in financial advice, moneysaving workspace tips to finding the answer to real estate debt, and more, this issue covers a wide range of developments and news. Of course, we are all looking for ways to make the most of our money, especially if we are running our own business, and the Q1 issue delves deeper into novel twists on traditional methods that help us to do so. We are pleased to present our first issue of 2026 to you, our valued readers. We are already looking forward to bringing you our next issue but, for now, we wish you a prosperous and abundant few months ahead. Sofi Parry, Senior Editor
Contents 4. News: - In HelloNation, Accounting Expert Karen Eberhart Metcalfe of Bolingbrook, IL, Helps Business Owners Identify Hidden Tax Savings - Maestro AI Raises $1.2 Million Pre-Seed Round to Build the Agentic Operating System for Mortgage Origination 6. What Are the Best IRA Custodians for Private Equity Investments? 8. 16 Million Brits Already Trust AI Chatbots With Their Money 10. Hybrid Workers Could Save Over £300 a Month This Winter by Swapping Home- Working for Workspace Perks 12. Why Breaking Up Big Tech Would Not Fix Innovation, According to Alok Sama 14. How AI and Cloud Technology Are Transforming Financial Services and Customer Experience 15. From Gold to Real Estate Debt: How Women Are Reclaiming Control of Their Financial Futures
NEWS In HelloNation, Accounting Expert Karen Eberhart Metcalfe of Bolingbrook, IL, Helps Business Owners Identify Hidden Tax Savings Karen Metcalfe explains that while the tax code offers numerous advantages for small business owners and self-employed professionals, many fail to take full advantage simply because they don’t track or categorize expenses effectively. The key to maximizing tax deductions lies in awareness and organization. When Illinois businesses keep good records and understand what qualifies, their everyday spending can translate into significant tax savings. One of the most overlooked deductions involves vehicle mileage. Business owners who use their personal vehicle for work-related tasks, such as meeting clients, attending events, or picking up supplies, can deduct that mileage. The IRS allows business owners to choose between tracking actual expenses or using the standard mileage rate. Using mileage-tracking apps or digital logs throughout the year helps ensure accuracy and consistency. The HelloNation feature also highlights the home office deduction, a powerful yet frequently misunderstood opportunity for self-employed individuals and remote workers. A portion of rent, mortgage, utilities, and insurance may be deductible if a space is used exclusively and regularly for business. The IRS simplified option, based on square footage, makes this deduction easier to calculate while maintaining compliance. Business owners should also review recurring costs like phone and internet services. Since most professionals use these for both personal and work purposes, a portion of the bills can be deducted based on business use. Small adjustments like this can add up to considerable tax savings over time. Office supplies and equipment represent another category of business expenses that many entrepreneurs fail to track completely. Small purchases, like ink, paper, or software subscriptions, often go unnoticed, but over a year, those expenses can add up to hundreds or even thousands of dollars in deductions. Professional fees also play an important role in legitimate tax savings. Payments to accountants, bookkeepers, consultants, and attorneys are fully deductible. Working with a tax professional not only ensures compliance but often leads to uncovering additional deductions that might otherwise be missed. Business travel, meals, and education-related costs are other deductible areas that can benefit Illinois business owners. When travel and dining are directly connected to business activity, airfare, hotel stays, and 50 percent of meal costs can be claimed. Similarly, attending training sessions, conferences, or online courses that improve professional skills qualifies as a deductible business expense. Investing in professional development not only strengthens a business but also provides legitimate tax advantages. Retirement plan contributions are another effective way for self-employed individuals to lower taxable income. Contributions to SEP IRAs, Solo 401(k)s, or other qualified retirement plans can be deducted, offering both immediate tax savings and long-term financial benefits. Charitable giving provides an opportunity to give back to the community while reducing taxable income. Donations of money or goods to qualified organizations can be deducted if properly documented. Many small business owners donate time or resources to local causes without realizing those contributions may qualify as tax deductions. Accurate recordkeeping is the foundation of every successful tax strategy. Separating business and personal expenses, maintaining digital receipts, and tracking costs throughout the year make it easier to claim every eligible deduction confidently and accurately. For Illinois businesses, the tax code provides plenty of opportunities, but realizing those opportunities depends on how well expenses are organized and documented. The right system and professional guidance can help business owners make their spending work harder for them and achieve consistent tax savings year after year. The article, Tax Deductions You Might Be Missing, features insights from Karen Eberhart Metcalfe, Accounting Expert of Bolingbrook, IL, in HelloNation.
NEWS Maestro AI Raises $1.2 Million Pre-Seed Round to Build the Agentic Operating System for Mortgage Origination Maestro AI, a vertical artificial intelligence (AI)-powered platform built for mortgage origination, announced it has raised $1.2 million in pre-seed funding. The round was led by New Stack Ventures, with participation from Family VC, ZFO, Roark’s Drift, and a group of local angel investors. The capital will accelerate go-to-market efforts, expand platform capabilities, and scale adoption across the mortgage industry. Maestro AI was founded and is led by mortgage industry veteran and serial founder David Rogove, who previously built and sold mortgage fintech company Wemlo to RE/MAX Holdings, Inc. The leadership team includes Chief Technology Officer Sugi Venugeethan, who brings deep expertise in AI agent frameworks, Chief Operating Officer Chelsea Balak, who previously worked alongside Rogove at Wemlo, and Joe Roos, a local angel investor and family office CIO at ZFO, who provides strategic finance support. Maestro AI delivers an agentic AI operating system that orchestrates mortgage workflows across teams and systems, enabling lenders to automate critical processes without replacing their existing loan origination technology stack. The solution addresses an industry that remains highly manual and fragmented, where disconnected systems and human-intensive workflows drive cost and slow loan production. “Mortgage origination is one of the last major financial workflows still dependent on manual labor,” said Nick Moran, Founder and General Partner at New Stack Ventures. “We believe agentic AI will fundamentally change how these processes operate, and Maestro is building the infrastructure to lead that shift. Founders with this level of domain expertise and execution history are rare, which is why we were excited to lead the round.” The company is currently integrating with ICE Mortgage Technology’s Encompass, the dominant U.S. loan origination system, and has launched early integrations and pilot programs with lenders. The new funding will accelerate these deployments as the company targets a total addressable market exceeding $100 billion. “I built and sold my first mortgage fintech company because I lived inside this broken process every day,” said David Rogove, Founder and CEO of Maestro AI. “Agentic AI finally makes true end-to-end automation possible, and Maestro is purpose-built to deliver the infrastructure that lenders have been missing.” Maestro AI recently completed the Gold Coast Tech Accelerator, a program supported by Related Ross, eMerge Americas, and FC100 that connects high-growth startups with capital and mentorship. “Maestro is a strong example of what can happen when high-potential fintech teams are paired with the right mentorship and capital, which is exactly what our accelerator program is designed to support,” said Melissa Medina, Co-Founder and CEO of eMerge Americas. Funding to accelerate go-to-market and expand AI-driven automation across the mortgage origination lifecycle
6 | Wealth & Finance Q1 2026 What Are the Best IRA Custodians for Private Equity Investments? 1. Accuplan Accuplan can be your best choice if you are wondering where you can find a reliable IRA custodian for private equity investments. It gives you access to private-equity, private-placement and alternative investments that most traditional IRA custodians do not support. The intuitive online portal makes it easy to fund your account, review deals, pay vendors and upload documentation. Accuplan services over 10,000 active accounts, manages more than $1.5 billion in assets, and has been operating for 25+ years in this space. The business highlights a flat-fee structure that keeps costs predictable and emphasizes its staff’s deep knowledge of alternative-asset investing and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) compliance rules. Because it allows your retirement funds to back privately held startups and limited partnerships, Accuplan appeals to investors who care about meaningful diversification beyond stocks and bonds. 2. Equity Trust Equity Trust supports alternative assets alongside traditional investments via its Universal IRA platform and the myEQUITY online dashboard. It lets you invest in stocks, real estate, crypto, and private equity or private entities within one retirement account. The entity handles more than 414,000 accounts, $75 billion in assets under custody, over 2.7 million transactions per year and a legacy spanning over 50 years in financial services. With this depth of infrastructure, you will find account flexibility and institutional-scale support for your alternative-asset retirement strategy. Equity Trust also offers extensive educational resources to help you evaluate deals more confidently. The company’s scale gives your investments a stable operational backbone as your portfolio grows. 3. Entrust Group The Entrust Group supports private equity investments such as privately held brands and private placements. The expert team handles the compliance, record-keeping and transaction processing so you can focus on evaluating deals that match your long-term goals. Its platform also supports other alternative assets, which gives you room to build a diverse portfolio under one account. This enterprise has more than 40 years of experience helping investors navigate IRS rules and complex alternative-asset structures. Its large learning center of webinars and tutorials gives you practical help when reviewing documentation or preparing for due diligence. With the Entrust Group, you gain administrative strength and investor education tailored to private equity investing. 4. Rocket Dollar Rocket Dollar gives you fast access to private equity investments, including startups and limited partnerships. Its structure allows you to bring your own deals and use either a standard self-directed IRA or a checkbook-control LLC for quicker transaction turnaround. Flat monthly pricing keeps costs predictable without asset-based fees. The platform’s digital onboarding helps you set up your account quickly, and its dashboard makes it easy to manage documents and investment activity. Educational resources walk you through compliance rules and deal requirements so you stay informed at each step. This setup offers a flexible, tech-forward option built for investors who want more control over their private equity strategy. 5. Advanta IRA Advanta IRA exposes you to private equity opportunities such as private placements and startups. It handles your compliance, documents and transaction processing so you can focus on evaluating deals that fit your long-term portfolio. Advanta IRA emphasizes a fee model without commissions or asset-based charges, which keeps your costs predictable as your investments grow. The company highlights that it holds billions in client assets and serves investors nationwide. Its education platform includes webinars and one-on-one support to help you understand complex rules and investment structures. This setup gives you flexibility and strong administrative guidance across various alternative assets. What Investors Compare Before Choosing a Custodian You must thoroughly assess places where you can find a reliable IRA custodian for private equity investments. A strong custodian gives you smoother processing and fewer roadblocks as you move into alternative assets. Here are features you must be thoroughly familiar with: • Speed of onboarding and account setup: Investors want a custodian that gets their account opened and funded without unnecessary delays. • Depth of private equity experience: Providers with clear workflows for private placements and capital calls make the process far easier. • Fee structure clarity: Transparent transaction and asset-based fees help you compare total long-term costs. • Quality of support and responsiveness: Fast answers and helpful guidance matter when deadlines are tight. • Document review turnaround times: Quick processing keeps investments from stalling during offer windows. • Technology and dashboard usability: Easy navigation, e-signing and real-time status updates improve the experience. • Reputation and account scale: Established custodians with strong track records give investors more confidence. Why Investors Use IRAs for Private Equity Jun21296 Slow, steady individual retirement account (IRA) growth can feel limiting when you try to build a more dynamic retirement strategy. Exploring where you can find a reliable IRA custodian for private equity investments can help you overcome this hindrance. You are not alone in looking beyond the usual index funds, especially as private equity opens the door to investments that feel more diversified and better aligned with long-term growth goals. It is also apparent that choosing the right partner matters more than most expect. Finding a dependable IRA custodian becomes one of the most important steps when you are ready to explore private equity inside your retirement plan.
Tax-advantaged growth takes on new weight when you pair it with the long horizons that private equity naturally follows, giving your IRA more room to compound with purpose. It also allows you to back mission-driven companies, niche opportunities or local businesses that align with your personal values instead of settling for broad, one-size-fits-all funds. Many investors use private equity to steady their portfolios during public-market swings, which creates a mix that feels more controlled and intentional. There is also something genuinely motivating about owning a piece of a real business instead of watching another passive index fund move in tiny increments. Making Private Equity a Confident Part of Your Retirement Strategy Private equity inside IRAs becomes much more accessible when you set the right expectations and understand the steps involved. You can explore companies where you can find a reliable IRA custodian for private equity investments and choose a partner that fits your personality, comfort level and investing habits. The right match helps you move through each deal with clarity and steady progress toward your long-term goals. What Are the Best IRA Custodians for Private Equity Investments?
8 | Wealth & Finance Q1 2026 16 Million Brits Already Trust AI Chatbots With Their Money Digital natives lead the charge in trusting AI with their finances Millennials (aged 25 to 34) lead the trend with over half (53.98%) having already relied on generative AI for financial guidance, followed by Gen Zs (aged 18 to 24) at 46.70%. Usage drops sharply with age, with only 26.95% of 45-54-year-olds using AI for this purpose and less than 10% of those aged 55 and above. “Adam Nasli, Head Broker Analyst at BrokerChooser said: “AI is increasingly used for financial advice because it delivers instant, easily accessible answers to almost any question, which is particularly appealing to younger generations who often prioritise speed. For many, it also removes the anxiety of discussing personal finances, creating a space that feels judgement-free. But when real money is at stake, AI should always be used to inform rather than decide, and consumers should always rely on trusted, regulated sources for financial guidance.” One in six people now relies on AI for daily financial decisions Of those who have used AI for financial advice, the surveyreveals a notable daily reliance, with around one in six users(16.84%), equivalent to approximately 2.7 million UK adults, consulting AI tools every day for their finances. Daily usage peaks among those aged between 35 and 44 years (21.90%), and adding in a further quarter(25.43%)of UK adults who turn to AI several times a week (four to six days), it’s clear that for many, AI is now part of regular financial decisions. Overall, AI is relied upon for financial decision-making 3.1 days per week on average. An alarming fifth of UK adults use AI for stock market forecasts While AI is largely used for low-risk financial tasks – such as finding better savings rates (43.46%), budgeting (38%) and planning financial goals like saving for a house or holiday (33.06%) – usage is also extending into higher-risk territory. Almost a third of Brits (29.64%) use AI to choose or compare investments, and more than one in five (21.82%) consult AI for stock market forecasts, indicating how quickly these digital tools are becoming trusted advisors for big-stakes financial decisions. Adam Nasli, Head Broker Analyst at BrokerChooser, commented: “AI tools can be incredibly convenient for everyday financial tasks like budgeting or comparing savings accounts – but relying on them for stock picking or market forecasts, particularly in fast-moving markets like forex, carries significant risk. These algorithms provide generic guidance based on historical data and patterns, but they cannot fully account for real-time market volatility, geopolitical events or your individual financial situation, risk tolerance and long-term objectives. Crucially, AI tools are not regulated by the FCA, so they should never be treated as a sole source of financial advice. Use AI for initial insight if you like, but any recommendations should always be verified to apply judgement, adjust strategies, and – most importantly – take responsibility for the guidance received. Forex markets in particular are inherently complex and highly leveraged, meaning small missteps in decision-making can quickly translate into significant losses. While AI can serve as a valuable supplement, it cannot replace the time necessary to invest into learning to trade and investment strategies. Acting solely on AI advice exposes investors to potentially significant financial losses, with no one responsible for the outcome.” Alarmingly, over half (52.85%) of Brits are likely to act on financial advice provided by AI tools, according to the survey. Millennials are the most receptive, with more than seven in ten 25 to 34s (76.40%) and 35 to 44s (70.29%) saying they would follow AI’s guidance. In sharp contrast, less than a third of over-55s (30.84%) would consider acting on AI advice. HENRYs (High Earners, Not Rich Yet) are a high-risk group for trusting AI financial advice Income also plays a role in financial decision-making, as high earners are the most likely to act on AI recommendations, particularly those with salaries over £75,000 (72.93%). Their financial cushion may encourage confidence in experimenting with AI advice, but it also leaves them exposed to potentially larger losses. The survey demonstrates howhigher incomes tend to correlate with greater financial risk-taking, as midincome earners (£25,001 – £35,000) are far more hesitant (48.18%). When it comes to choosing between AI and a traditional financial advisor,humans are still in the lead, but the gap is narrowing. Just over two in five (43.88%)Brits would opt for a traditional advisor if cost were no issue. Older Brits remain loyal to human advice, with nearly 60% of those aged 55 and above preferring a traditional advisor. Confidence in human advice steadily declines with each younger age group, falling to 39.90% among 45 to 54s and 35.71% among 18 to 24s. Almost one in five Millennials would choose AI over a human advisor Millennials stand out as the most comfortable with AI managing their finances, with over a third (35.90%) of those aged 25 to 44 believing AI and professional human advisors perform equally well. Notably, a further 16.90% of Millennials would pick AI outright even if cost were not a factor – a sign that adoption may accelerate as digital natives gain financial independence. View the full survey results, including all six questions and responses here. Nearly a third (29.10%) of UK adults, equivalent to around 16.1 million people, have already turned to AI for financial advice on money, savings or investments. Meanwhile, an almost identical share (30.95%)said they would consider using it in the future, meaning that six in 10 Brits overall would trust AI with their money (60.05%), highlighting a growing appetite for quick and accessible AI-driven financial guidance.
16 Million Brits Already Trust AI Chatbots With Their Money
Hybrid Workers Could Save Over £300 a Month This Winter by Swapping HomeWorking for Workspace Perks As winter heating bills climb and the cost of everyday treats continue to rise, new data from flexible workspace operator beyond shows that hybrid workers could save over £300 a month simply by going in 3 days a week and making full use of the complimentary perks already included in their workspace membership. All-day heating, coffees, snacks and comfort purchases quietly stack up, often making WFH more expensive than working from a workspace where these essentials are already included. There’s also another cost that’s rarely acknowledged: loneliness. According to Bupa’s Wellbeing Index, 24% of employees say they feel lonely or socially isolated due to their work circumstances, rising to 36% among 16-24-year-olds. For hybrid workers, stepping into a vibrant workspace provides not only financial value, but essential social interaction and a daily sense of community. The ‘Pretflation Problem’: Britain’s small treats are getting expensive According to recent national averages: • A cappuccino in Britain now costs £3.48according to Numbeo • Pint prices have crossed the £5 mark nationally, and are reaching £6.10 in London • Brits are paying £48.45 across the country for gym memberships and as high as £76.26 in the capital • A short massage in London costs £15+ • The average UK household dualfuel bill is approximately £146 per monthaccording to ofgem These costs spike further during the winter months, when people naturally rely more on heating, hot drinks and small pick-me-ups throughout the workday. How hybrid workers are using workspace perks this winter To understand how hybrid professionals rely on workplace perks, especially during the colder months, beyond analysed member activity across its four London hubs. The data shows that the perks workers lean on most include coffees, snacks, social drinks, and wellness, which directly mirror the categories they typically overspend on when working from home or in the city. Key trends from the analysis include: • High average coffee demand with 312 kgs of coffee beans ground and poured both by the self-serve coffee machine and by the onsite baristas a month. That’s roughly over 40,000 cups of coffee. • Snacks in the morning and afternoons help people get through their day – with 190 kg of fresh fruit and 29 kg of chocolate consumed monthly across their London hubs – with snacking increasing by 63.86% during colder months. • After-work drinks continue to play an important role in connection, workers drank1,460 litres of beer and cider on tap in the colder months. And over the whole year an average 535 litres every
11 | Wealth & Finance Q1 2026 month – the equivalent of roughly 1000 pints monthly. How these perks translate into savings and better well-being for hybrid workers Based on average hybrid worker habits, accessing these perks three days a week could translate into around: • £90 per month on coffees thanks to unlimited free barista or machine coffee • £158 per month on pints with daily beer-on-tap from 3-6pm • £13 per month on snacks, with complimentary daily fruit bowls, chocolate jars and weekly community snack drops, perfect for curbing those afternoon slump impulse purchases • £30 per month on wellness, with free onsite massages offered in select London hubs available each month and discounted partnerships with local gyms In addition, with the average household energy bill at £146 per month, avoiding heating and powering a home workspace three days a week could save the typical hybrid worker £22–£32 a month, depending on property size. Altogether, a hybrid worker spending three days per week in a beyond workspace could save up to £324 per month, depending on usage. Just as importantly, this saving comes paired with meaningful social interaction, from shared lunches and coffee chats to after-work pints, helping reduce the isolation that many hybrid workers may feel during the winter months. A winter-ready strategy for hybrid professionals Recent data highlights how UK working patterns continue to evolve: • 28% of workers are now officially hybrid, splitting time between home and another workspace. • Only 49%say they would comply with a mandatory, full-time return to the office. • 91% of employers now offer some form of flexible working. For many London workers, commuting costs typically range from around £10 a day for inner-city Tube travel to more than £20 a day for rail commuters from outside the capital. But commuting is only half the story. During winter, the hidden costs of homeworking such as all-day heating, extra lighting, frequent kettle boils, comfort purchases, coffees and snacks can quickly add up. Meanwhile, darker and colder days can elevate the feeling of loneliness. For many professionals, a flexible workspace with built-in perks offers both a cost-effective and enjoyable way to work. Wybo Wijnbergen, Co-founder and CEO of beyond commented on the findings: “There’s a perception that working from home is cheaper, but when you factor in rising energy bills, pricey coffees, and the ‘little luxuries’ people lean on to get through the workday, it may not the bargain it once was. What we’re seeing this winter is that people don’t just want a desk, they want to feel part of something. Our members come into the workspace for the community as much as the coffee. By offering free barista coffee, beer on tap, snacks, wellness benefits and regular socials, we’re helping people save money while giving them a place where they can meet others, feel energised and avoid the isolation that comes with prolonged home-working.” The beyond Savings Calculator Potential monthly saving: £324 Methodology The data is based on estimated operational data across beyond’s London hubs during 2025. Perk usage was recorded through barista bar output, community event stock levels, gym redemption logs and wellness service bookings. Savings calculations are based on national average prices sourced from Cost of Living Index Numbeo, The Morning Advertiser Pint Price Survey, Leisure DB’s 2025 State of the UK Fitness Industry Report, ofgem, compared against included or discounted member benefits.
Why Breaking Up Big Tech Would Not Fix Innovation, According to Alok Sama This exclusive interview with Alok Sama was conducted by Tabish Ali of the Champions Speakers Agency. Alok Sama is a distinguished Finance & Banking speaker and seasoned investor whose insights bridge global finance, technology and entrepreneurial strategy. With deep experience across capital markets, investment management and strategic board advisory roles, he has worked with leading institutions and founders to identify transformative opportunities and understand risk in an increasingly complex economic landscape. Alok combines his practical experience in technology investing with a thoughtful understanding of markets, addressing how capital allocation, founder resilience and product-market dynamics shape long-term value creation. His perspective on scaling businesses and evaluating investment opportunities reflects a blend of analytical rigour and real-world leadership. In this exclusive interview with the London Keynote Speakers Agency, Alok Sama shares his views on innovation, investment decision-making and the leadership qualities that drive success in finance, technology and beyond. Question 1: Large technology firms are often criticised for stifling innovation. From your perspective, does scale genuinely hinder innovation and productivity, or can size be a strategic advantage? Alok Sama: For, yeah, I think the issue of size comes up in the context of the US Magnificent Seven, certainly Google, Microsoft and others. I, for one, am not convinced that size is the enemy of innovation. If you go back and look at the history of technology innovation, back in the 60s and 70s the centre of innovation was less Silicon Valley and more Bell Labs. Bell Labs was a part of AT&T, which was the ultimate monopolist in terms of monopoly on the telecommunications business in the United States. Even if you take Google, for example, the innovation at Google unrelated to its core business. DeepMind is a great example. You saw the Nobel Prize go to a couple of people from Google as a result of the work they’ve done on protein folding. That has been quite an amazing, transformative way. Again, out of Google, autonomous cars, that technology has nothing to do with Google’s core business, but that’s something they invested in, suffered huge losses over a period of time, and now it’s very real. I wrote in my first Wao a few weeks ago and there’s no looking back. You just know that’s what the future is. Some of these companies, founder-controlled companies, have been enormously successful cash generators. They have the ability to invest in unrelated businesses that can be quite profound in terms of the impact they make on technology and on humanity, generally speaking. Having said that, there is scope for abuse. Amazon, for example, in terms of the power that it has and how it exercises it in the context of its marketplace, those are things that regulators need to watch out for. I, for one, am a big fan of behavioural remedies as opposed to structural remedies. In other words, dictate how people behave in the conduct of their business as opposed to outright break-ups. I’m just not convinced that would accomplish anything, in the case of Google, for example, which is a case that’s going to be litigated over the next several years. Question 2: When investing in or acquiring a business, what core factors determine whether a company has the potential to deliver outsized, long-term returns? Alok Sama: Technology investing, at some level, is a numbers game. You have to take a portfolio approach. If you make ten investments, you know that a couple are going to be outright dogs, complete write-offs. Some are going to be middling performers, and you invest in the hope that at least one is going to be a home run. If you take that approach, then when you look at an investment, you have to start off by looking at the addressable market and whether this business can be huge, and make up for the dregs that you’re inevitably going to have in your portfolio. Not just a ten-bagger, but potentially a hundred-bagger. For that, you look for businesses that have the potential to become huge businesses, to become unicorns, decacorns and beyond. That’s one. Then you look for product-market fit. It’s one thing for the market to be large, but you’ve equally got to have a product that fits with the needs of that marketplace. Product-market fit is crucial. Third, but by no means least, is the entrepreneur. You need to look for entrepreneurial resilience. Has this individual, he or she, dealt with failure? It’s a bit cliché, but it’s a stepping stone to success. You look for resilience. You look for flexibility. Whether this individual will listen to investors, whether the founder will be flexible. There are lots of twists and turns inevitable along the way, and they need to listen to the board and take guidance. Those are some of the characteristics that you look for in a founder. So those three factors, large
13 | Wealth & Finance Q1 2026 addressable markets, product-market fit, and then very importantly, very crucially, the founder, those are the things I would look for. Question 3: When you speak to senior leaders and investors, what lessons or perspectives do you most want them to take away from your experiences in technology and investment? Alok Sama: I tend to think of speeches or lectures as a little bit patronising. My approach, which is the case with my book too, is to share my experiences, to share anecdotes, and equally invite an audience to share their experiences. In the process of sharing our respective stories, hopefully we all learn from each other. I’m a big fan of engagement, of interactive sessions, as opposed to lecturing. I do hope that in the course of these interactions people learn something about the investment business, the technology investment business in particular, with Masaan, the idealism with which he approaches the investment business, which is something I find very attractive. At some level, the investing business has become fairly crass and commercial, so diving into that aspect of it, the linkages, philosophical themes like the linkages between money and happiness, stages of life, those are the types of things I love to explore in sessions with groups.
14 | Wealth & Finance Q1 2026 How AI and Cloud Technology Are Transforming Financial Services and Customer Experience Artificial intelligence and cloud technologies are reshaping financial services at pace, driving smarter decision-making, broader access to financial products, and faster innovation across the sector. From fraud detection to personalised customer experiences, datadriven technologies are redefining how modern finance operates. Tomi Popoola is a Fintech Speaker and technology thought leader whose work focuses on how AI, machine learning and cloud infrastructure enable businesses to scale efficiently and compete in an increasingly digital economy. She brings a practical, commercially grounded perspective on how organisations can translate emerging technologies into real-world value. In this exclusive interview with the AI Speakers Agency, Tomi Popoola shares how AI has shaped the financial landscape, how businesses can harness its technological benefits, and why the cloud continues to underpin innovation across the technology sector. Question 1. How has artificial intelligence transformed the financial sector over time, particularly in areas such as access, risk management, and decision-making? Tomi Popoola: “I would say it has shaped it for the past few decades, and it has made huge progress. When you think about artificial intelligence and machine learning at the same time, you see the huge leaps the financial sector has made and how it has grown. “Examples could be fraud detection. Small businesses are able to detect fraud a lot earlier, helping end users but also their businesses as well. Another thing is access. Access is a huge thing because previously, without AI and ML, you would not find that people in underserved countries had access to certain financial services. “It has provided access. When you think about credit scoring, we typically used traditional data and traditional methods, but now we have alternatives brought in because of new data sets and new perspectives to look at. You can also look at tailored financial decisions, both financial decisions and financial services and solutions for people. “Now that we have more access to data and we are using machine learning and artificial intelligence, we can easily tailor solutions to people. Because of this, when you increase your customer base, you increase innovation in the financial sector, while also ensuring that the limits and possibilities are endless. “I would say it has shaped it from where it started, it is currently shaping it, but there is still a huge growth aspect that is yet to be tapped into. Being able to leverage AI in the perfect way for certain scenarios would definitely help, as it already has been helping.” Question 2. From a practical business perspective, how should organisations approach AI adoption to deliver measurable value for both customers and operations? Tomi Popoola: “In terms of harnessing the benefits, you need to think about your business. You need to think about the benefit it can bring to your business and your end users, because if you do not think about it that way, it could be very counterintuitive. “First of all, what does your business lack, and how can you make your business more efficient? How can you turn that into return customers, customer satisfaction, and improving your ROI? “An example could be if you are a B2C business that deals with customers. Your customers could have questions or need to speak to agents or customer service. You could build a pre-programmed chatbot that has answers to FAQs, recently asked questions, or disputes that you could help solve. “From an internal perspective, this could reduce your operational and administrative overhead and the number of people being sent to human agents. From your customer’s perspective, it could increase customer satisfaction, make the process more efficient, reduce waiting times, and encourage them to come back to use or buy your service. “Another example could be personalised experiences and better decision making, such as in lending. One key thing for businesses is actually looking at data being power when used correctly.” Question 3. In what ways has cloud computing fundamentally changed innovation, scalability, and competitive dynamics across the technology sector? Tomi Popoola: “This is a question I love, because when you think about innovation and creativity, you should think about the cloud more than people often do. Prior to the cloud, we had on-premise data centres, and this made it very hard for small businesses to survive. “You needed services and databases, which meant you had to buy these things, and that could be very expensive. You could easily start to incur technical debt. With the cloud, all of this is virtualised, and you are paying for the service as you use it. “This allows for faster innovation. Small businesses can pay per subscription for their technological usage, while also benefiting from quick learning and quick innovation without technical debt. “Take generative AI as an example. The cloud has provided access to generative AI, allowing you to scale it, build large language models, deploy them, and grow quickly. This also increases market competition, because previously these capabilities would cost so much that small businesses could not afford them, and even large businesses could not afford to put all their eggs in one basket. “The cloud has created the concept of two-way door decisions, where you can innovate and, if something does not work out, you can come back from it. You can easily scale, serve large amounts of customers, and learn new things at the same time. “When you think about continuous integration, CI/CD, robotics, containerisation, and even something as basic as creating your own website, many of these have been made possible in the modern day because of the cloud.” This exclusive interview with Tomi Popoola was conducted by Tabish Ali of the Motivational Speakers Agency.
Feb22158 May22030 From Gold to Real Estate Debt: How Women Are Reclaiming Control of Their Financial Futures By Belinda Inocco, Head of Private Clients at ASK Partners Recent reporting in The Times points to a striking shift in how women are investing. More are turning to gold as a way to take greater control of their finances, favouring assets that feel tangible, understandable and secure. According to The Royal Mint, women now account for 25% of its customer base, up from just 8% in 2018, a remarkable change in what has long been a male-dominated market. This trend mirrors what we are seeing at ASK Partners. Female engagement with our platform continues to grow, reflecting a broader movement: women are making more deliberate choices about how they build, protect and manage their wealth, and they are doing so on their own terms. Women are not more risk-averse — they are more risk-aware Research consistently shows that women invest differently from men, and often with better results. A study by Warwick Business School found that female investors outperform men by almost 2% a year, largely because they take a longer-term view and resist the impulse to trade frequently. They are more considered in their decision-making and less likely to react emotionally to short-term market noise. Over time, these behaviours compound into stronger outcomes. Yet despite this, the UK still faces a £678 billion gender investment gap, roughly the size of Switzerland’s economy. This disparity is not about capability. It is about access, confidence and the lack of investment options that align with how many women naturally prefer to invest. Gold’s rising popularity among women illustrates this clearly. It offers clarity, perceived security and a sense of personal control, qualities that are often missing from traditional investment propositions. Real estate debt: control, clarity and confidence Many of the same characteristics that attract women to gold are also present in real estate debt, with the added advantage of predictable income. Women frequently express a preference for investments that are straightforward, asset-backed and insulated from unnecessary volatility. They value transparency around risk and return, as well as clearly defined time horizons. Real estate debt aligns naturally with these priorities. Loans are secured against property, structured with fixed returns and supported by contractual downside protection. Crucially, unlike direct property ownership, real estate debt involves no tenants, no maintenance and no operational complexity, removing many of the barriers that deter investors. Why 12–18 month loan terms resonate Loan duration is another important factor. Typical real estate debt terms of 12 to 18 months are long enough to deliver meaningful returns, yet short enough to feel manageable and visible. This structure discourages overreaction to market volatility and supports the calm, disciplined approach that research shows benefits women investors. Once invested, the loan can simply be monitored and allowed to run its course, an approach that suits those who prefer to make thoughtful decisions and give them time to mature without constant intervention. The power of tangible, reliable value The report noted that women are often drawn to assets with physical presence, durability and clear intrinsic value. Gold embodies this appeal, but real estate debt offers many of the same qualities. Both are underpinned by tangible assets that provide reassurance in uncertain markets. The difference is that real estate debt also delivers contractual income over a defined period, combining security with predictability, an especially compelling proposition when broader markets feel volatile or opaque. Closing the gender investment gap Women are not new to investing. They have simply been underserved by an industry that has too often spoken past them. As more women take ownership of their financial futures, they are gravitating towards asset classes that offer control, transparency and resilience. Gold may be capturing headlines today, but the deeper story is about women embracing investment strategies that reflect how they think, plan and build wealth. Real estate debt fits squarely within this shift, offering a clear, asset-backed route to attractive, riskadjusted returns. As this momentum continues, the responsibility lies with the financial sector to meet women where they are, with accessible, high-quality investment options that recognise and support their strengths.
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