Intelliflo has announced a major upgrade to its platform, bringing agentic AI into the heart of adviser workflows. In simple terms, the software won't just sit there waiting for instructions. It will continuously monitor activity, spot anomalies, prepare advisers for reviews, flag upcoming client decisions and adapt to the way individual firms work. The bigger picture? We're moving beyond AI as a tool and towards AI as an active participant in the advice process. The advice remains human. The decisions remain human, but the monitoring, preparation and routine oversight increasingly won't be. Our friend @Ian McKenna described the move as "throwing down the gauntlet" to the rest of the advice technology market. The question for advisers is no longer whether AI will become part of advice businesses. It's how quickly it becomes embedded in the systems you use every day. What do you think? Exciting step forward, or does it raise concerns around over-reliance on technology?👇

Remember the Facebook Poke? No message. No context. Just a quick tap on the shoulder that said, “I see you” - or words to that effect. It was clumsy, slightly awkward, occasionally weird – but strangely human. No sales pitch. No algorithm. Just a moment of connection. The Poke feature actually still exists on Facebook, it's just well hidden - I'll send you the link if you'd like to find it. In its own way, it worked because it invited curiosity rather than demanded attention. Fast-forward to today, and we’re still doing the same thing - just with different tools. On LinkedIn, you can now “nudge” someone to play Pinpoint, Queens or Crossclimb. It’s subtle, low-pressure… but it’s still a way of saying, “I noticed you.” For financial advisers who struggle with it or who don't really 'get' LinkedIn, there may be a lesson here. Connection doesn’t always start with content, campaigns or calls to action. Sometimes it starts with a quiet nudge. * A comment on someone’s post. * A comment on a post in a group where your target market is hanging out. * A reaction. * A message that simply says, “Good to see what you’re doing.” Those small digital gestures build familiarity - and familiarity starts to build trust, and then curiosity kicks in. So maybe the Facebook Poke was teaching us something all along: Connection often starts not with what you say, but simply because you chose to say something.

Let's put this in context. I was talking today with an adviser who is based in Bristol and he said before Covid he used to really enjoy meeting clients who were based in London, Birmingham and Manchester. But he says that most of them are now more than happy with Zoom meetings and that he rarely gets out of the office these days which he misses a lot. I have to sympathise with him, as my own UK travel has dropped off a cliff since Covid. I infinitely prefer running half day and full day in person workshops but very few advisers will travel now that everyone has got used to Zoom and Teams. Literally every week I could fill a training room somewhere round the UK with a group of IFAs. However, this shift to virtual meetings and online training sessions raises an important question: how effective are these online interactions compared to face-to-face engagements? There’s no doubt that Zoom and Teams have their place, especially in terms of convenience and efficiency. But when it comes to training, particularly in our industry, the data suggests that something might be lost in the transition. Research indicates that attention spans tend to be shorter in online settings. For instance, studies show that during online training sessions, attention can wane significantly after just 10-20 minutes, particularly if the content isn't interactive or engaging. This contrasts with face-to-face workshops, where participants can stay focused for longer periods - typically around 20-30 minutes - especially when the session includes discussions or group activities. But it’s not just about attention. Comprehension and retention of information also appear to be affected. While online training can match face-to-face learning in terms of comprehension, this often requires a more disciplined approach from participants and relies heavily on the quality of the training design. When it comes to retention, face-to-face training generally comes out on top, particularly for complex topics that benefit from immediate feedback and practical exercises.

Advisers react to 'shocking' news of Tenet administration https://www.ftadviser.com/companies/2024/06/06/advisers-react-to-shocking-news-of-tenet-administration/

Three in Five Homeowners Considering Equity Release for Later Life needs - The Equity Release Council reports that 61% of homeowners are considering equity release, up from 57% in 2021. This shift indicates a growing acceptance of later-life mortgages, with 39% finding them more common and acceptable. Jim Boyd, ERC CEO, notes that products like ultra-long mortgages are necessary for managing home purchases, pensions, and daily expenses. Nearly half (46%) of homeowners aged 55+ view property wealth as a way to meet later-life needs, with even higher interest among younger homeowners (75%). Main motivations for equity release include paying for home care (17%), boosting retirement funds (16%), and funding travel (15%). Additionally, 14% want to support younger family members financially. Given these trends, the equity release market seems to present significant potential for advisers to assist clients in managing their property wealth and planning for retirement.