There’s a quiet but important shift happening across adviser tech, and if you blink, you might miss it. We’re not talking about a shiny new CRM or another data dashboard. We’re talking about what’s going on under the hood: integrations, partnerships, and AI pipelines that are shaping how advice gets built and delivered.
This month alone, we’ve seen:
- FNZ team up with Microsoft to explore AI-powered advice tooling
- Twenty7tec roll out a planning module with new CRM and cashflow integrations
- City AM select Third Financial as a new platform partner
That’s three signals in one month pointing to a bigger trend: the advice tech stack is maturing, and integrations are becoming non-negotiable. But what does that really mean for financial planners and paraplanners? And where does it leave firms trying to deliver good advice, not just good systems?
Let’s dig in.
From Tools to Ecosystems
We’ve all worked with ‘tech’ that made life harder, not easier. A platform login that doesn’t speak to the CRM. A client risk score stuck in a PDF. Rekeying data into suitability reports (again). It’s no surprise that some advice firms have been slow to adopt new tools—they’ve been burned before.
But the nature of tech is changing. What we’re seeing now isn’t just more tools, but better connectivity between them.
Take the Twenty7tec update as a prime example. Their new integration layer links to iPipeline, Genovo, Timeline, and more, bridging the gap between planning, risk, and suitability workflows. According to CEO James Tucker, “the focus is now on connecting, not just creating”.
This shift matters. Because disconnected tools don’t just slow teams down—they create advice risk. When data gets re-entered or misaligned between systems, the integrity of the advice narrative suffers. And under Consumer Duty, ‘close enough’ just isn’t enough.
Enter AI: Assistant or Risk?
Then there’s AI. The FNZ–Microsoft announcement highlights a growing appetite to embed large language models (LLMs) into advice tooling—think summarisation, pattern detection, and even recommendation support.
On paper, this sounds great. But here’s the catch: if AI is reading client files, assessing risk, or suggesting actions, the need for human oversight skyrockets.
As we often say: AI can enhance, but not excuse. You still need a clear, defensible logic path. You still need to evidence why a recommendation was made, not just what the tool produced. And unless that AI is aligned to current FCA rulesets, it’s not a shortcut—it’s a liability.
For now, AI is best seen as a co-pilot. A speed enhancer. A second set of eyes. But the judgment? That still sits squarely with the adviser, and ideally, a structured suitability consultant process.
What Firms Can Do Right Now
If you’re reviewing your own tech stack or planning for 2026, here are three practical questions to ask:
- Are your systems talking to each other? Look at the points of friction: duplicate data entry, non-integrated risk tools, or manual report generation. These are not just time drains—they’re risk triggers.
- Do your tools support your people? If automation is creating more rework or generating documents that need constant editing, it’s not really helping. The best tools simplify, not complicate.
- Is your process auditable, not just operational? This is the big one. Under SYSC, COBS and Consumer Duty, you need more than a ‘completed’ advice file—you need to show the logic behind it, version it, and evidence that it aligns with client objectives and risk appetite.
If your QA team is still working at the end of the process, rather than alongside it, your tech is probably observational, not preventative.
Final Thought: It’s Not About the Tech. It’s About the Structure
At We Complement, we’re excited about tools like AMS (Advice Matrix Scoring), ARC (Advice Readiness Checks), and ASL (Advice Suitability Logic). But the point isn’t that we’ve got tech. It’s that we’ve built structure.
Every integration, every automation, every dashboard should serve a bigger purpose: helping firms deliver clearer, safer, and more consistent advice. If your tools aren’t doing that, it might be time for a rethink.
If any of this resonates with what you’re seeing in your firm, we’d love to hear from you. Whether you’re reviewing your tech stack, exploring AI, or just trying to smooth out your workflows, we’re always happy to chat. No pitch, just people who get it.
