When Phil Wickenden says Hazel “put a clock on the economics of advice,” the key insight is this: Markets weren’t reacting to today’s AI. They were repricing the future business model of advice firms. The sell-off in St James’s Place, AJ Bell, Quilter, Aberdeen, LPL Financial, Raymond James, and Charles Schwab was not about revenue … Continue reading Altruist’s Hazel: What the Market Reaction Actually Means
Tag: business
The Hidden Growth Lever Small Advisory Firms Are Overlooking
Why human capital may be your most undervalued asset — and your most powerful competitive edge Small advisory firms with two to five registered individuals sit in a unique position. You are experienced enough to deliver real client value, yet often too lean to attract acquisition offers, private-equity investment, or platform partnerships. Many feel caught … Continue reading The Hidden Growth Lever Small Advisory Firms Are Overlooking
The Regulation Illusion: Why “Authorised” Doesn’t Always Mean Lower Risk
Many thoughtful professionals share a common concern when considering whether to refer clients to a non-regulated financial planning service: “If it isn’t regulated, it must be riskier.” It’s an understandable conclusion. Regulation feels like protection. It signals oversight, standards, and accountability. But when examined through a professional risk lens rather than a psychological comfort lens, … Continue reading The Regulation Illusion: Why “Authorised” Doesn’t Always Mean Lower Risk
The Missing Asset in Most Financial Plans — And Why AI Is About to Expose It
If your financial plans don’t measure human capital, they’re not complete plans. They’re partial forecasts. For decades, traditional advice models have focused almost entirely on financial capital: pensions, ISAs, investments, protection products. That made sense in a world where modelling tools were limited and client data was sparse. But a growing body of research — … Continue reading The Missing Asset in Most Financial Plans — And Why AI Is About to Expose It
The Quiet Crossing: Why Respected Professionals Are Publicly Stepping Into Total Wealth Planning
There is a moment in every industry shift that rarely makes headlines. It isn’t when commentators predict change.It isn’t when technology launches.It isn’t even when regulators announce reforms. It’s when respected insiders begin moving — calmly, visibly, and without drama. That moment is now happening in financial planning. Across LinkedIn and professional forums, established practitioners … Continue reading The Quiet Crossing: Why Respected Professionals Are Publicly Stepping Into Total Wealth Planning
AI Isn’t Replacing Advisers. It’s Replacing Intermediation.
Recent market tremors tell a revealing story. When news broke that Altruist launched an AI-driven planning engine capable of generating personalised strategies in minutes, investors reacted instantly. Share prices across major wealth firms — including St James’s Place, AJ Bell, and Quilter — fell sharply. The market’s response wasn’t about one tool.It was about what … Continue reading AI Isn’t Replacing Advisers. It’s Replacing Intermediation.
The Bridge Is Real: What the New AR Regime Signals for Financial Planners Considering Their Next Chapter
The regulatory landscape has shifted again — and this time, it’s structural. The recent announcement from HM Treasury confirming consultation on a tougher regime for 34,000 appointed representatives is not just another compliance update. It is a directional signal about where the profession is heading and what kind of planner will thrive in the next … Continue reading The Bridge Is Real: What the New AR Regime Signals for Financial Planners Considering Their Next Chapter
Is the Fall in Wealth Manager Shares Just the Start of the Evolution?
UK wealth management and stockbroker shares were among the hardest hit on Wednesday as the market reacted to fresh fears over artificial-intelligence disruption. Shares in major UK firms — including St. James’s Place, AJ Bell, Aberdeen Group and Quilter — slid sharply, following investor concerns that new AI-driven tools could automate functions once seen as … Continue reading Is the Fall in Wealth Manager Shares Just the Start of the Evolution?
Standing at the Bridge: Why Modern Financial Planning Must Learn to Stress-Test Lives, Not Just Markets
Many experienced financial planners find themselves standing at a bridge they didn’t set out to reach. They haven’t rejected financial planning.They haven’t “fallen out of love” with professionalism, rigour, or client care. Yet something feels increasingly misaligned. The tools still work — but the world they were built for no longer exists. Clients are more … Continue reading Standing at the Bridge: Why Modern Financial Planning Must Learn to Stress-Test Lives, Not Just Markets
The AI Interface Shift: Why Method Beats Advice
(And why time is now your biggest risk) The financial planning profession isn’t being disrupted by better advice. It’s being displaced by a new interface. Increasingly, people don’t start with advisers, websites, or apps.They start with AI. They ask questions.They test ideas.They model scenarios.They explore options — instantly. This is not a future prediction.It’s a … Continue reading The AI Interface Shift: Why Method Beats Advice
Academy of Life Planning 