Have you ever sat through a market cycle and wished someone had given you a clear roadmap before the next wave of disruption hit? That feeling hits hard these days. Technological leaps, shifting power balances between major nations, and fresh pressures on everything from energy to interest rates keep rewriting the rules for anyone managing a portfolio. The MoneyWeek Wealth Summit 2026 arrives at exactly the right moment to tackle these shifts head-on.
On Friday 6 November in central London, investors will gather under the theme The Age of Change. The day focuses on practical ways to navigate technological, political and financial revolutions. I’ve always believed that events like this cut through the noise better than endless online commentary. You get real conversations, pointed questions and ideas you can actually test in your own holdings. Here’s a full look at what’s planned and why each session matters.
Navigating Geopolitics And Market Realities
The morning opens with a conversation that sets the tone for everything that follows. Historian and geopolitical specialist Peter Frankopan joins Andrew Van Sickle. Frankopan is known for works that map how trade routes and power centres have shifted across centuries. Their discussion will examine rising tensions involving America, China, Russia and other key players, and what those tensions mean for the emerging world order.
Many of us have watched cooperation give way to sharper competition over the past few years. That trend looks set to continue. The practical question for investors is straightforward yet complex: which assets thrive in a less cooperative environment and which ones struggle? There are genuine reasons for optimism in certain sectors, but also clear reasons to stay cautious about strategies built for the previous decade’s conditions.
Implications Across Energy Security And Asset Classes
A panel featuring Dominic Scriven from Dragon Capital and Vietnam Enterprise Investments, Jasmine Yeo of Ruffer, and Stephanie Kelly from Lombard Odier will dig into the details. They plan to cover energy markets, security needs, inflation pressures, interest rate paths, equity and bond prospects, global trade flows and the role of emerging markets. I’ve found that listening to managers who actually run money in these areas often reveals nuances that pure analysis misses.
Expect a frank assessment of how supply chains continue to fragment and what that does to pricing power. Emerging markets may offer selective opportunities, yet they also carry higher sensitivity to geopolitical swings. The panel should help attendees separate genuine long-term themes from temporary noise.
Finding Growth In Europe Against The Odds
After a short coffee break comes a chance to question Rory Stokes of Janus Henderson and European Smaller Companies. Europe often gets painted as a region short on dynamism. Stokes will explain how he still uncovers growth stocks within that landscape. The conversation should prove useful for anyone who has written off the continent too quickly.
Smaller companies in particular can surprise. They sometimes adapt faster than larger peers when regulations or consumer preferences shift. Asking the right questions here could surface names or sectors that rarely make mainstream headlines yet deliver solid results over time.
Unpacking The AI Investment Cycle
Richard Clode from Janus Henderson and Bankers Investment Trust will tackle one of the dominant themes of the moment: artificial intelligence. The current AI wave looks different from earlier technology cycles in important ways. Clode will outline both the multi-decade opportunities and the risks that come with rapid adoption.
In my experience, the biggest mistake investors make with transformative technologies is treating them as short-term trades. The infrastructure build-out alone creates secondary effects across energy demand, semiconductor supply and even commercial real estate. Understanding those knock-on impacts can help position a portfolio more thoughtfully.
The AI boom is not simply another tech fad. It carries structural implications that will reshape capital allocation for years.
Building Steady Global Income Streams
Steady income remains a valuable anchor when markets feel unsettled. Martin Connaghan of Aberdeen and Murray International manages one of the few trusts that blends developed and emerging market exposure. He will share his approach to constructing diversified global income with an element of growth.
Finding reliable payouts while still participating in growth is harder than it looks. Currency movements, dividend sustainability and valuation discipline all play roles. Connaghan’s perspective should give attendees concrete criteria they can apply when screening their own income holdings.
Defence Spending As An Investment Reality
Higher defence budgets have become a structural feature of the current environment rather than a temporary spike. Tom Bailey of HANetf will explore how technological advances and geopolitical threats shape which companies stand to benefit most. Investors who prefer to look away from this sector may need to reconsider, at least for risk management purposes.
The conversation will likely touch on everything from traditional equipment to cyber capabilities and unmanned systems. Identifying the firms that can actually deliver on rising order books remains the key challenge.
The Emerging Commodity Supercycle
Olivia Markham of BlackRock and BlackRock World Mining will examine why supply constraints are colliding with fresh demand sources. Critical metals are seeing pressure from AI data centres, electric vehicles and broader electrification trends. The result looks increasingly like the early stages of a new commodity supercycle.
Supply simply cannot expand overnight. Mining projects take years to bring online, and permitting hurdles remain significant in many jurisdictions. Understanding which metals face the tightest balances and which companies hold the better reserves can make a material difference to returns over the next decade.
Mastering The Evolving ETF Landscape
Lunch provides a natural pause, yet the ideas keep flowing. An ETF masterclass will look at how these products have moved well beyond simple low-cost trackers of major indices. Natali Monardo of IncomeShares, Dan Gold of Stratiphy and Jamie Gordon of VettaFi will discuss key trends and practical ways to deploy ETFs inside portfolios.
The range of available strategies has expanded dramatically. Investors can now access thematic exposures, defined outcome products and income-focused vehicles with greater precision. The challenge is matching the right tool to a specific goal without introducing unnecessary complexity. This session should help cut through the marketing language.
UK Budget Implications And Financial Planning
The afternoon shifts focus firmly onto Britain. A live recording of the MoneyWeek Talks podcast will feature independent economist Julian Jessop, multi-asset manager Emma Moriarty of Capital Gearing, and adviser Lisa Conway-Hughes of LCH Wealth. Hosted by Kalpana Fitzpatrick, the discussion will explore the latest Budget, the prospects for growth across different regions, and how bond markets are reacting to government spending plans.
Financial planning implications sit at the centre of the conversation. Tax changes, savings incentives and property-related measures all feed into personal decisions. Hearing practitioners discuss the real-world effects often proves more useful than reading the official summary alone.
Value Opportunities In The UK Market
The UK equity market has spent years out of fashion. Yet the large-cap end has delivered relatively solid performance of late. Ian Lance of Redwheel and Temple Bar will examine how a focus on unfashionable value stocks can provide useful diversification away from a global index dominated by technology and growth names.
Geopolitical uncertainty adds another layer. Companies with strong domestic cash flows or resilient balance sheets can act as a partial buffer. Lance’s approach tends to emphasise patience and valuation discipline. Both qualities feel especially relevant right now.
Investment Trust Discounts And Catalysts
The UK investment trust sector has endured a difficult stretch. Widening discounts and pressure from activist investors forced many boards to act. The tone appears to be shifting as trusts prioritise performance improvement, yet share prices still lag in certain pockets of the market.
Tom Treanor and Charlotte Cuthbertson of Asset Value Investors and MIGO Opportunities will discuss whether these situations still offer value. Their emphasis falls on identifying clear catalysts that can help close discounts. Simply buying cheap is rarely enough. Understanding the path to realisation matters more.
- Focus on trusts with concrete plans to improve liquidity or return capital
- Watch for changes in management or strategy that could unlock value
- Assess the quality of underlying assets rather than headline discounts alone
- Consider the broader market environment when timing any moves
Foreign Interest In UK Assets
During the afternoon coffee break, Ben Ritchie of Aberdeen and Dunedin Income Growth will take questions on foreign buyers acquiring UK firms at what look like attractive valuations. The discussion will explore how domestic investors should respond when overseas capital sees opportunity that local markets appear to undervalue.
This pattern has repeated across several sectors. Understanding the motivations behind these bids can highlight where domestic sentiment has become overly cautious. It also raises questions about the long-term ownership of key UK businesses.
Venture Capital Trusts And Tax Changes
The final stretch of the main agenda turns to areas still seeking lift-off. Shane Gallwey of Guinness Ventures will address venture capital trusts. These vehicles play an important role in funding early-stage companies as they scale. Recent changes to tax relief on subscriptions will influence demand from investors, and Gallwey will unpack the likely effects.
VCTs have long appealed to those seeking tax-efficient exposure to younger businesses. The policy adjustments create both challenges and potential openings. Understanding the revised landscape will help anyone considering this corner of the market.
Cryptocurrency Tokenisation And Financial Plumbing
Charlie Morris of ByteTree and Izabella Kaminska of The Blind Spot will debate cryptocurrency tokenisation and related developments. Are digital assets on course to transform the financial system, or do they mainly represent an updated form of infrastructure similar to the earlier move from paper records to electronic systems?
Kaminska’s journey from early sceptic to partial convert adds an interesting dimension. The conversation should stay grounded rather than speculative. Tokenisation of traditional assets could improve settlement speed and reduce intermediary costs, yet regulatory clarity and operational resilience remain open questions.
Space Investing Beyond The Hype
The day closes with a look at space. Rob Desborough of Seraphim Space will outline the opportunities and risks. Space currently ranks among the few themes that can match AI for pure excitement. Yet the story extends well beyond technology. Geopolitics and security considerations mean that countries without space capabilities risk losing strategic autonomy.
Investors need to distinguish between genuine commercial progress and pure narrative. Launch costs have fallen, satellite constellations are expanding, and earth observation data is finding more practical applications. Still, capital intensity and long development cycles demand careful selection.
That concludes the formal agenda, though the evening drinks reception will keep the conversations going. Attendees can continue discussing the day’s themes with fellow investors, speakers and contributors. Breakfast, coffee, lunch and drinks are all included in the ticket price. The venue is Together at 88 Wood Street in the City of London. Tickets stand at £219 for subscribers and £299 for non-subscribers.
Why This Gathering Feels Especially Timely
Markets rarely stand still, yet the pace of change right now feels unusually rapid. Artificial intelligence is rewriting productivity assumptions. Geopolitical alignments are hardening. Commodity markets are responding to structural demand shifts. Defence budgets are rising. UK assets continue to trade at discounts that attract overseas capital. Each of these threads could influence portfolio outcomes for years.
Events that bring practitioners together under one roof still hold unique value. You hear the tone of voice, the hesitations and the genuine points of disagreement that written summaries often smooth over. I’ve always preferred that kind of direct exchange when forming a view on complex themes.
The sessions have been designed to move from the big picture down to actionable ideas. Starting with global power dynamics, moving through technology and income strategies, examining the UK in detail, and finishing with areas still in their early commercial stages creates a logical flow. Attendees should leave with a clearer sense of both risks and opportunities.
Practical Considerations For Attendees
Preparation helps maximise the value of a day like this. Reviewing your current portfolio allocations against the themes on the agenda can highlight questions worth asking. Note which sessions address your largest positions or the gaps you have been considering. Arrive with a short list of specific issues rather than open-ended curiosity.
Networking during breaks and the evening reception often proves as useful as the formal presentations. Fellow attendees bring different perspectives and experiences. A casual conversation can sometimes surface an insight that formal panels miss.
The location in the City of London makes attendance straightforward for many. Central venues reduce travel friction and allow more time for the content itself. Combined with the inclusive catering, the practical arrangements support a focused day.
Looking Ahead After The Summit
The real test comes in the weeks and months that follow. Ideas heard in a conference hall need translation into portfolio decisions. Some themes may reinforce existing positions. Others may prompt a fresh look at underweighted areas. The most valuable outcomes often appear gradually rather than as sudden revelations.
Geopolitical developments will continue to unfold. AI adoption rates will clarify. Commodity balances will evolve. UK policy decisions will work through the system. Returning to the notes from the day and testing them against subsequent data can keep the insights relevant.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect is how interconnected many of these themes have become. Energy demand from data centres links AI to commodities. Defence spending links geopolitics to technology. Tokenisation potentially links digital assets to traditional financial infrastructure. Seeing those connections more clearly is one of the lasting benefits a well-structured summit can provide.
For investors who prefer to stay ahead of the curve rather than react after the fact, the MoneyWeek Wealth Summit 2026 offers a concentrated dose of thoughtful analysis and practical discussion. The Age of Change is not an abstract slogan. It is the environment in which portfolios must now operate. Understanding its contours more clearly is a worthwhile investment of a single day.
Whether your focus sits primarily in equities, income generation, alternative assets or broader multi-asset allocation, the agenda contains material that should challenge assumptions and refine thinking. That combination of challenge and refinement remains the hallmark of useful investment gatherings. This year’s event looks well placed to deliver both.
