IG Wealth Management Advisor Perception Study: Canadian Advisors Prioritize High-Net-Worth Growth, but Dealer Support Lags

• More than half of industry advisors cite High-Net-Worth (HNW) client growth as key priority  
• However, a clear majority say dealer support for growing HNW business is inadequate
• Nearly half of advisors considering switching dealers cite HNW support as a top focus

WINNIPEG, MB, Oct. 27, 2026 /CNW/ -- The latest installment of the IG Wealth Management Advisor Perception Industry Study ("The Study") reveals a growing disconnect between advisors' ambitions to serve high-net-worth (HNW) Canadians and the support they receive from their dealer firms. While affluent clients are viewed as a critical source of future growth, many advisors say they lack the resources, expertise and practice support needed to effectively attract, serve and retain HNW clients.

The business implications of the growing disconnect between advisors and their dealers revealed in The Study are significant:

• More than half (52%) of advisors identify attracting HNW clients with more than $1 million in investable assets as a key growth priority, increasing to 67% among advisors who are in the early growth stage of their practice and looking to build their business.
• Yet, 57% of advisors rate the dealer support they receive for growing their HNW business as inadequate.
• Further, nearly half (47%) of advisors considering switching firms say improving support for serving HNW clients is a top priority for their practice.

These results are the final in a series released by IG exploring perspectives of over 300 Canadian CIRO-registered and independent financial advisors, highlighting opportunities for firms to strengthen support and better meet evolving advisor and client expectations.

"The high-net-worth segment represents a significant growth opportunity, but serving these clients requires deep expertise and a coordinated approach," said Damon Murchison, President and CEO of IGM Financial and IG Wealth Management. "That's why we've invested in the IG Private Wealth Planning Experience, which brings together a collaborative team of advanced financial planning specialists. By combining that expertise with the resources that help advisors build relationships and host meaningful client events, we're equipping them to deliver value to affluent clients while growing their practices."

Closing the Gap: Prioritizing HNW Clients
According to The Study, nearly two-thirds (65%) of advisors say support for client events and seminars is inadequate, while 59% say the same about digital marketing support. Mr. Murchison noted that IG helps advisors deepen client relationships and expand their reach with an integrated marketing and client engagement platform. IG supports advisors through more than 300 professionally managed client events annually, a portfolio of virtual events and webinars featuring industry experts and thought leaders, dedicated event funding, and turnkey seminars and event playbooks that help advisors deliver high-quality client experiences in their communities.

Advisors also benefit from centralized digital marketing support, including targeted local advertising campaigns, enhanced social media and email communication capabilities, digital presence coaching, and AI-enabled tools designed to streamline marketing activities and support business growth.

As wealth grows, so does the complexity of clients' financial planning requirements. HNW clients often require sophisticated tax, estate and succession planning strategies, yet 46% of advisors say access to subject matter experts is inadequate. To help meet these needs, IG provides advisors with access to a multidisciplinary team of tax, estate, insurance, philanthropy and advanced financial planning specialists with deep expertise in serving affluent clients.

"The high-net-worth opportunity continues to grow, but so do client expectations. Advisors need more than investment solutions alone. They need access to specialized expertise, scalable business support and meaningful client engagement opportunities. At IG, we've brought these capabilities together through a multidisciplinary planning team, industry-leading marketing support and a nationally coordinated events platform, helping advisors differentiate themselves, deepen client relationships and build stronger, more scalable businesses while delivering greater value to affluent Canadians," said Mr. Murchison.

About IG Wealth Management
Founded in 1926, IG Wealth Management is a Canadian leader in delivering financial planning with approximately $178.0 billion in assets under advisement as of September 30, 2026. For more than 95 years, IG has been focused on improving the financial well-being of Canadians so they can confidently embrace all of life's possibilities. Through a network of advisors located across the country, IG provides approximately one million clients with personalized advice, comprehensive financial planning, insurance and mortgage services and professionally managed investment solutions. IG is a member of IGM Financial Inc. (TSX: IGM), part of the Power Corporation group of companies and one of Canada's leading diversified wealth and asset management organizations with approximately $345.7 billion in total assets under management and advisement as of September 30, 2026. For more information, visit ig.ca.

About the IG Wealth Management Advisor Perception Industry Study
The research was conducted in August 2025 among a sample of 309 independent financial advisors that is broadly representative of the overall Canadian advisor population by age, gender, stage of business, assets under advisement (AUA), region and licensing. All advisors are members of the Environics Research Advisor Panel – a highly representative opt-in panel comprised of Canadian independent financial advisors.

SOURCE IG Wealth Management

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