Global Tariffs, Market Shocks, and What It Means for the Wealth & Advice Sector

With global tariffs dominating the news, it’s a good time for those of us working in the ecosystem of the UK’s wealth and advice sector to take stock.

And no this isn’t going to be an article about politics. It’s about being ready for the ripple effects that significant global economic shifts will bring - changes that shape client behaviour, market conditions, and how advice is delivered every day.

Here are a few things worth paying attention to, whether you’re an adviser, part of a QA team, or working in compliance and oversight.

1. Volatility Means More Clients Looking for Reassurance

Markets don’t respond well to uncertainty, and trade policy is a big driver of that. Tariffs (imposing or removing) can cause sudden moves across equities, commodities, and currencies, knocking investor confidence.

For advisers, this can mean more calls, more anxious clients, and more need to offer steady, clear communication. Vulnerable clients, in particular, need careful handling.

And for QA teams, the challenge gets bigger: how do you maintain consistent, high-quality oversight when the volume and complexity of interactions start to ramp up?

2. Advice Is Under the Microscope

When things feel uncertain, clients tend to reassess. Some want to de-risk. Others are hunting for opportunity. Either way, the advice you give needs to adapt, and so does the evidence behind it.

That puts suitability right at the forefront. Regulators will be watching outcomes more closely, so documentation and audit trails matter more than ever.

This is where smart tools can make a real difference, helping advisers stay on track during conversations, while flagging any gaps or potential risks in real time.

3. Cost Pressures Are a Double-Edged Sword

If tariffs push up the cost of energy, food, and imports, inflation follows. That, in turn, squeezes household budgets—and clients start to scrutinise the value they’re getting from advice.

For firms, this creates a tricky balancing act:

• How do you protect your margins while keeping service levels high?

• How do you scale up without letting compliance slip?

Advice augmentation and intelligent QA can be key here—helping firms do more with less while keeping oversight sharp.

4. Vulnerability Needs Visibility

Financial stress doesn’t hit everyone the same way. Older clients, those on fixed incomes, or people close to retirement may feel the strain more acutely.

Identifying and supporting vulnerable customers isn’t just a regulatory box to tick—it’s a responsibility. But spotting vulnerability isn’t always straightforward.

If you’re not confident your current systems can pick up early warning signs—especially the subtle ones—it might be time to explore how technology can help fill the gaps.

5. Trust Is Built (or Lost) in the Details

In turbulent times, one poorly handled client interaction can do lasting damage—not just in the form of a complaint, but to your firm’s reputation.

That’s why having the ability to monitor every interaction, spot risks as they happen, and feed learnings back into your coaching and compliance processes is no longer a ‘nice-to-have’; It’s essential.

Final Thought: Preparation Is Now a Priority

With Trump’s tariffs now in effect, the impact is no longer theoretical—it’s tangible and evolving. The direct consequences on markets, consumer prices, and investor confidence are already starting to emerge, adding new layers of complexity for advisers, compliance teams, and oversight functions. For the UK wealth and advice sector, staying agile and well-prepared is no longer a nice-to-have—it’s essential. The firms that will come through strongest are those able to anticipate change, equip advisers with real-time insight, and scale their oversight without compromising on quality.

At Aveni, we’re built for exactly this—helping firms turn market disruption into opportunities for deeper insight, stronger compliance, and better client outcomes. If your team is navigating these challenges, let’s talk about how we can support you.