The Thinking Ahead Institute (TAI) is a global not-for-profit research and innovation network established in 2015 and affiliated with Willis Towers Watson (WTW). Since its founding, over 150 investment organisations have collaborated through the Institute to advance forward-looking thinking across the investment industry. Its membership — comprising asset owners, asset managers, wealth providers and strategic partners — collectively oversees more than US$10 trillion in assets, with operations spanning over 100 countries worldwide.

The Institute’s mission is to give investors foresight to build long-term value, motivated by a desire to influence the investment industry for the good of savers worldwide and to mobilise capital for a sustainable future. Its work is organised around several thematic research hubs: Total Portfolio Approach, Defined Contribution, Wealth, Systems Thinking, Organisational Alpha & Governance, Technology and AI, and Sustainability. These focus areas reflect the Institute’s commitment to exploring the forces shaping the investment landscape through collaborative research, shared learning and deep engagement.

The Thinking Ahead Institute is led by Marisa Hall and was co-founded by Roger Urwin. It operates as a not-for-profit entity within the Willis Towers Watson ecosystem. The Institute is membership-based, welcoming asset owners, asset managers, wealth providers and strategic partners who share its vision of influencing the investment industry for the benefit of savers. Members and partners actively shape the research agenda and participate in working groups, seminars and events. Summary research is made publicly available, while full reports and additional resources are exclusive to members and partners.

The Institute delivers value through three primary channels: unique research (seminal papers, insight articles, toolkits and podcasts); collaborative engagement (research working groups, seminars, global industry studies and events); and private one-to-one engagements (structured leadership sessions, consulting projects and workshops). Annual global industry studies — including the widely followed World’s Largest 500 Asset Managers report, produced in partnership with Pensions & Investments — are published each year. Members also gain access to non-public research, the monthly ‘Ahead of the Curve’ newsletter, proprietary tools, and invitations to global virtual and in-person events year-round.