The Future of Financial Advice: What Changes, and What Still Matters
Technology is changing how we access financial information, how we invest and what we expect from financial advisers. But as the industry evolves, what should clients actually be looking for?
Financial advice looks quite different today than it did ten years ago.
Investors have access to more information, more investment options and increasingly sophisticated technology. Artificial intelligence can analyse data, compare products and answer financial questions in seconds. Younger generations are approaching money differently, while global markets continue to test even the most experienced investment professionals.
These were among the key topics discussed at the 2026 Ninety One Investment Summit in Cape Town, attended by Bartho from SFP Wealth. And while the industry is undoubtedly changing, the discussions raised an important question: What will make financial advice valuable in the years ahead?
More information doesn’t always mean better decisions
There was a time when financial advisers were among the primary sources of investment information. Today, almost anyone can access market commentary, research investment products and compare investment performance online.
AI has taken this a step further. Investors can now ask detailed financial questions and receive responses almost immediately. This makes information more accessible, which is a positive development. But access to information and knowing what to do with it are two different things.
Consider someone approaching retirement. An online tool might help them compare investment returns, calculate a withdrawal rate or understand different retirement products. What it cannot automatically establish is the full picture of that person’s life: their family responsibilities, other sources of income, health considerations, appetite for risk and what financial security means to them.
Those circumstances influence whether a financial decision is appropriate.
The value of financial advice lies not simply in providing information, but in understanding how that information applies to someone’s life.
A new generation is changing the conversation
Another important discussion at the summit focused on generational wealth and the changing expectations of younger investors. The next generation is entering financial conversations with different habits. They’re comfortable researching independently, using digital tools and questioning traditional approaches to investing. Many are interested in low-cost investment products, and they expect information and communication to be accessible.
This presents an interesting challenge for financial advisers. An adviser who has worked with a family for twenty years cannot assume that the next generation will automatically continue that relationship.
Trust needs to be built with each generation.
For families and business owners, this has implications beyond investment portfolios. Estate planning, business succession, inheritance and the transfer of family wealth all involve people who may have very different financial priorities and expectations. Good financial planning should therefore include conversations about the future, not only for the person making decisions today, but also for those who may be affected by them tomorrow.
Financial advice should evolve alongside the people it serves.
Technology can improve the process, but judgment still matters
One of the more interesting themes from the summit was how investment managers are already using AI in their businesses.
Research that previously required considerable time and resources can now be completed more efficiently. Technology is helping investment professionals analyse large volumes of information, identify patterns and challenge their own assumptions.
For financial advice practices, the opportunities extend to administration, reporting, client information and communication. Used responsibly, these tools can reduce repetitive work and give advisers more time to focus on their clients.
But technology also introduces responsibilities, particularly when it comes to protecting personal financial information and ensuring that automated outputs are accurate. There is also an important distinction between producing an analysis and making a sound decision.
An investment model may identify an opportunity, but deciding whether it belongs in a particular client’s portfolio still requires an understanding of the risks involved, the client’s objectives and the consequences of getting that decision wrong.
Technology should support that process, not replace the thinking behind it.
Markets will remain uncertain. Your financial plan needs to account for that.
Despite advances in technology and increasingly sophisticated investment research, one challenge remains unchanged: nobody can consistently predict what markets will do next.
Several investment managers at the summit challenged the reliance on forecasts and emphasised the importance of sound investment processes. This is particularly relevant in markets where investment performance can be heavily influenced by a relatively small number of companies or sectors.
An investment portfolio may appear diversified while still being exposed to similar underlying risks.
For clients, the lesson isn’t that every market movement requires a change in strategy. It’s that financial decisions should be made with an understanding of what could go wrong, not only what is expected to go right. A well-considered financial plan should take account of different market conditions, unexpected life events and changes in personal circumstances.
It should also provide enough clarity to help clients avoid making emotional decisions during periods of uncertainty. Sometimes the most valuable financial decision is knowing when not to make a change.
What should clients expect from financial advice going forward?
As financial services continue to evolve, clients should benefit from better technology, easier access to information and more efficient processes. But those improvements should support, rather than replace, the fundamentals of a good advice relationship.
Clients should be able to expect an adviser who:
- Takes time to understand their financial circumstances and long-term goals.
- Explains the reasoning and risks behind financial recommendations.
- Reviews their financial plan as their life and circumstances change.
- Is willing to question assumptions and challenge investment decisions when necessary.
- Uses technology responsibly without losing the personal relationship.
These expectations aren’t particularly new. If anything, they’re becoming more important.
The future of advice is still personal
The conversations at the Ninety One Investment Summit highlighted an industry that is adapting quickly. Technology will continue to change how financial information is gathered, how investments are managed and how advisers engage with their clients.
New generations will bring different expectations, and investment markets will continue to present challenges that cannot always be anticipated. But a financial plan is ultimately about more than investments, products or technology.
It’s about helping people make decisions that support the life they’re building, the responsibilities they carry and the future they’re planning for. At SFP Wealth, we believe the best use of new technology and industry knowledge is to support that responsibility.
The way financial advice is delivered will continue to change. The importance of understanding the person behind the financial plan should not.