A turbo-charger makes a car go faster because it packs extra air into the engine, so the engine can breathe more and deliver more horsepower. The technology used by financial advisers is doing a similar job, by creating more ‘air’ which allows the adviser to more fully explore their clients’ financial goals, fears and ambitions.…

Computers are great at crunching lots of numbers and automating tedious tasks, which had many advisors looking nervously over their shoulders at robo-advisors when they emerged. But when it came to building trust and relationships humans won compared with the coldness of an algorithm. The ‘pure’ robo-advice platforms have all struggled to win clients and…

“What’s been happening in your world this past year?” is probably the most important question an advisor can ask in an annual review with a client. And it is all about suitability. Ask them if they need to review or change their investments, insurances, estate planning or financial goals and they’ll almost certainly say no.…

A recent survey shows the use of holistic financial planning software in the USA is rising, as advisors move toward providing a ‘total’ service that extends beyond just picking investments for clients. The trend toward indexing investments and the emergence of robo-advice are both making investment decisions more like a commodity, where price is the…

There’s a lot more to comprehensive financial planning than just putting together an investment portfolio. However, the performance of a portfolio is often the only benchmark of the ‘value’ of financial advice. But investment performance does not account for the other benefits which accrue from receiving comprehensive financial advice. Giving someone a comprehensive financial plan…