The Future of Advice Belongs to Human and Technology Partnerships

With artificial intelligence (AI) on the rise in nearly every facet of modern life, the financial services industry stands on the brink of a transformation more profound than any it has seen before. However, contrary to the dystopian fears that often accompany discussions of AI, the whitepaper’s central message is clear: the future belongs not to machines alone, but to the powerful partnership between technology and human empathy, with trust as the ultimate differentiator.

What Will Be AI’s Greatest Impact?

One of the most striking predictions in the whitepaper is that technology’s greatest achievement will be its own invisibility. As AI and automation become more sophisticated, they will recede into the background, allowing the human side of advice to take center stage. As the article states, “The more technology recedes from view, the more human the experience becomes.” Rather than replacing advisors, technology will automate the administrative and analytical tasks that once consumed their days, freeing them to focus on what matters most: building meaningful client relationships and personalized advice.

This shift is already underway. Today, most firms operate with what the paper refers to as a “Frankenstack” — a patchwork of disconnected platforms and tools. By 2030, AI will serve as the connective tissue, seamlessly integrating data and automating routine processes. As one contributor shared, “Tech is the scale enabler. It allows advisors to be human.” The statistics are telling. According to research cited in the paper, most firms currently use only about 40% of their technology’s capabilities, highlighting the vast untapped potential for efficiency and client engagement.

Advancing Advice Through Human Relationships

As technology takes over the menial and repetitive tasks of advising, humans are given more opportunity to focus on the purpose of an advisor-client relationship. Advisors will be valued not for their ability to crunch numbers, but for their capacity to listen, empathize, and translate complex financial concepts into actionable, personalized guidance. In summarizing this point and how it will impact the future of advice, the whitepaper contends that, “Empathy acts as the advisor’s operating system, then trust becomes the product.”

This is more than theory. According to “Advice 2030”, only 11% of clients currently receive comprehensive, multidisciplinary advice, while 42% receive transactional advice and 46% receive planning-focused guidance. As technology automates the transactional, advisors have a unique opportunity to move up the value chain, delivering the kind of holistic, life-centered advice that clients increasingly demand.

In a world where investment products are commoditized and information is ubiquitous, trust and responsiveness become the true differentiators. The whitepaper attests, “The winning firms will be those that deliver confidence faster, clearer, and more transparently.” Firms are urged to “track speed as a trust metric” and to make “speed = care” a firm motto. As one contributor stated, “Speed is the new sincerity. The advisor who can show up with clarity and empathy in five minutes will win over the one who needs five days to perfect the plan.”

Clients are also seeking more holistic support. A striking 66% now say they want to discuss their mental and physical wellbeing with their advisor. This serves as proof that financial planning is no longer just about numbers, but about supporting clients in all aspects of their lives.

The Power and Responsibilities of Teaming With AI

As is well known, the predictive power of AI and the explosion of data brings legitimate concerns about AI overstepping its boundaries. The whitepaper does not shy away from these issues. Azish Filabi of The American College of Financial Services cautions, “In an age where AI makes it easy to capture and analyze every client interaction, we must be especially vigilant about privacy, fairness, and the stories our data tells — or doesn’t tell. Ethical advice delivery means remembering that behind every data point is a person and a context, so we have to go beyond the numbers and consider the responsibilities we carry as stewards of both information and trust.”

Regulatory oversight is also expected to increase. Bonnie Treichel of Endeavor Retirement notes, “Regulators are going to require that someone is responsible for the AI engagement whether data, private information, or even recommendations ... licensing and legal liability will drive acceptable use of advanced technology.”

The whitepaper recommends transparency as a best practice: “Disclose your digital DNA. Write a short AI and data ethics statement to share with your clients that shows how technology supports your human judgment instead of replacing it.” Robert Kirk of Intergen Data adds, “The real ‘wow’ isn’t just what the numbers say; it’s how we use that knowledge — communicating with empathy, protecting privacy, and making sure clients understand the journey ahead, not just the data point.”

Continuous Learning and Adaptability as Advice Differentiators

The pace of technological change is relentless, but the whitepaper argues that adaptability and continuous learning are the ultimate skills for future-ready advisors. Advisors who can offer specialized knowledge that perfectly meets the needs of a client will stand out from the sea of algorithmic advice. According to our own Chief Marketing Officer Jared Trexler, “Advisors must be adaptable and able to differentiate themselves by delivering real client value. At The College, we’re focused on these changing needs through extensive generational research and by developing cutting-edge programs and new designations like our tax planning certification, our fastest growing designation in our 100 year history.”

Ultimately, “Advice 2030” makes a compelling case that the future of financial advice is not about choosing between humans and technology, but about harnessing the strengths of both. As AI and automation make capacity abundant, it is empathy, trust, and adaptability that will remain scarce — and therefore, invaluable. The firms and advisors who thrive will be those who use technology to amplify their humanity, delivering advice that is not only smarter and faster, but also more personal and meaningful. In the end, it is not the machine, but the human at the center of the relationship, who will define the next era of financial guidance.

Read the Whitepaper

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