Investing & Financial Services · 2031–2036
The Future of Investing: Markets, Brokers and Digital Finance
How could AI, clearer costs and connected financial infrastructure change investing? Explore the evidence, a cost comparison and three scenarios for 2035.
3 min read · Published 2026-09-26 · Watch the full episode ↓
What will investors expect from a broker in 2035?
An investment account could become easier to understand: goals, holdings, costs and decisions that need attention, supported by explanations linked to their sources. Behind that interface, custody, payments, ownership records and reporting would still have to work together.
The Future of Investing explores how access, artificial intelligence and market infrastructure could reshape that experience over the next decade. The opportunity is clearer information and simpler administration, while investment outcomes remain uncertain.
Access is the starting point
The World Bank's Global Findex 2025 reports that 79% of adults worldwide had an account in 2024, compared with 51% in 2011. This includes financial institution and mobile money accounts; it does not measure brokerage account ownership.
Moving from an account to investing requires understandable products, working payment arrangements and money that households can commit to future needs. Platforms could increasingly organise decisions around goals, time horizons and existing commitments.
For brokers, the complete customer experience matters: currency conversion, withdrawals, reporting, corporate actions and support, alongside execution and access to instruments. A clear journey can differentiate providers with similar product ranges.
What a small percentage costs
On a constant $50,000 balance, a 1% annual charge is $500. A 0.2% charge is $100. The difference is $400 for that year.
This illustration holds the balance constant and excludes other costs. It compares one stated charge, not two services' overall quality. Depending on the activity, a fuller comparison could include spreads, conversion, financing, subscriptions and product expenses.
A useful interface would explain relevant charges before a decision and summarise what the customer actually paid afterwards.
Better explanations, better infrastructure
AI could help locate passages in company filings, compare documents and explain technical language. IOSCO's 2025 consultation examined emerging AI uses in capital markets and their associated challenges. In our central scenario, useful assistants expose sources and distinguish documented facts from generated interpretations.
Behind the screen, institutions could automate more matching, record checks and exception handling. The US move to a T+1 standard settlement cycle for most broker-dealer transactions in May 2024 illustrates a historical shift towards faster processing. Placing an order and completing settlement remain distinct events.
Tokenisation represents asset claims on programmable platforms. The BIS's 2026 analysis explores how such infrastructure could improve financial operations. Its usefulness depends on ownership rights, transfers, record keeping and the process for selling. A token does not itself create a willing buyer.
Three paths to 2035
Fragmented innovation: platforms add impressive features, but accounts, payments and ownership records remain difficult to connect. Customers still complete substantial manual administration. Businesses that solve specific coordination problems can stand out.
Integrated digital finance: our central scenario brings clearer broker reporting, stronger support, source-linked AI explanations and more automation behind transfers and settlement. Selected tokenised products find practical uses alongside established arrangements.
Open and connected finance: with customer consent, information moves more easily between compatible providers. Switching becomes simpler and useful tools reach smaller accounts. Lower total costs and reliable portability would be evidence of progress.
These scenarios describe possible developments, not investment recommendations or probability estimates.
What to watch
Follow active users rather than registrations, total costs for defined activities, processing times, reliability and problem resolution. For new infrastructure, look for completed transactions and repeat use. For AI, ask whether answers are traceable and tasks are completed accurately.
Better tools can help people understand what they own and pay. They cannot remove market risk. Watch the full episode below to explore the examples and scenarios in more detail.
Sources
World Bank — Global Findex 2025.
IOSCO — Artificial Intelligence in Capital Markets, consultation report, March 2025.
US Securities and Exchange Commission — Statement on implementation of T+1 settlement, May 2024.
Bank for International Settlements — The path to the next-generation monetary and financial system, June 2026.
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