Technology News from Financial Planning

FINRA and consumer advocates are raising alarms about online scams that are driving fraud losses into the hundreds of billions of dollars.

Recent studies have shown that clients and prospects want human authenticity, even as AI tools become more prevalent in firms' workflows.

The bank is pushing wealth managers to use artificial intelligence embedded in Salesforce and Zoom to plan, summarize and follow up on client meetings.

A UC-Berkeley study found that AI tools may get work done faster, but advisors and other workers are often using it to add to their workloads.

Wealth management firms are beginning to push AI beyond back-office use and toward growth, panelists at Future Proof Citywide said. Success depends on a thoughtful approach and clean data.

Not all tech integrations are created equally. Industry experts discussed what advisors should focus on when evaluating potential additions to their tech stacks.

Authenticity and judgment will emerge as differentiators for financial advisors as AI tools reduce the cost of early-stage analysis.

Considered a report card on client satisfaction across both advised and DIY customers, the latest JD Power survey points to the growing power of technology to capture new business.

The RIA technology platform builds on its acquisition of AI-powered liability-optimization fintech Sora Finance last year.

Libretto, Syntax Data, Advyzon, Kwanti and the Oasis Group were among the major players at the annual conference that announced new and upcoming AI advancements.

At the T3 Conference, leaders discussed how showcasing the value of the new tools can help advisors connect with clients.

With so many changes in how people communicate, the lead generation and conversion process seems daunting. But experts say RIAs have the opportunity to achieve big growth through sustained and focused investing.

Nearly half of advisors polled said they use the AI tools in their practice. But the experts behind the survey estimated that the number is already much higher.

Panelists said advisory firms should take urgent steps to get ahead of regulatory examinations focusing on AI use.

At Future Proof Citywide, Azish Filabi of The American College of Financial Services, outlined the need for firms to be careful with client data and stress-test their infrastructure.

Analysts warn AI agents could automatically move clients' uninvested cash into money markets and other high-yielding investments, depriving brokerages of one of their most lucrative revenue sources.

The latest study by The Kitces Report of advisors' well-being found five key drivers of their happiness with work — and many firms are falling short.

Financial advisors who are curious about vibe coding have many free or relatively cheap options to help them get started.

AI is allowing advisors to build custom tools and processes without deep knowledge of coding. Still, some guardrails will be necessary to keep compliant.

RIA leaders are debating "digital employees" but expect service models to expand to meet growing HNW needs, says industry observer Ric Edelman.