- By Jay Burke/Stephen Handley
(Fine Answers podcast – Ep #156)
When you think about financial advice, you probably picture a meeting—sitting down with an expert to discuss your goals, your family, and your future. But have you ever wondered what’s happening “under the hood” to make sure that advice is accurate and delivered on time?
In a recent episode of the Fine Answers podcast, host Jay Burke of Burke Britton Financial Partners sat down with Stephen Handley, founder of Fin365. Stephen isn’t just a tech expert; he’s a former financial adviser who realised that to truly serve clients well, the “back-office” engine needs to run perfectly.
Here are the key takeaways from their conversation about how technology is actually making financial advice more personalised and accessible.
- Solving the “Paperwork” Burden to Increase Access
Financial planning is highly regulated, which historically meant a mountain of manual data entry. Jay and Stephen discussed how this “regulatory weight” often makes advice expensive and hard to access for the average person. By using enterprise-grade systems, firms can move away from “clunky” spreadsheets. For you, the client, this means the “cost to serve” comes down, making professional guidance more accessible while allowing your adviser to spend more time on your strategy and less time wrestling with software.
- The “Game of Inches” in Service Delivery
We often wait for a “big bang” innovation to change our lives, but Stephen argues that the best technology works through the “high-volume little things.”
- Proactive Milestones: Instead of an adviser sifting through physical files to see who is nearing retirement, systems now flag these events automatically.
- Seamless Reviews: Moving from “phone tag” to automated booking links.
- Accuracy at Scale: Automation reduces the human error that often occurs during repetitive administrative tasks. When a firm automates these small moments, they save hundreds of hours. That time is reinvested into deeper research and more face-to-face time with you.
- “Agentic AI”: The Evolution of the Assistant
One of the most exciting developments discussed was “Agentic AI.” Think of this as a highly skilled, digital research assistant. Stephen demonstrated how an AI agent can:
- Scan a client’s entire financial “household” (Super, SMSF, Trusts).
- Compare current investments against research data and approved lists.
- Draft a report highlighting areas that need a human adviser’s attention. What used to take a staff member hours of manual “Excel wizardry” can now be drafted in minutes. This doesn’t replace the adviser; it gives them a clearer, more accurate starting point to apply their professional judgement and discernment.
- The Golden Rule: Data Security First
With the rise of tools like ChatGPT, Stephen issued a critical warning: never put private financial information into public AI models. A major benefit of professional systems like Fin365 is that they operate within a “private bathtub.” Your data stays within your adviser’s secure Microsoft environment—it isn’t fed into a public cloud where it could be compromised. When engaging an adviser, it is worth asking how they secure your data and what “closed” systems they use to protect your privacy.
Conclusion: The Best of Both Worlds
The takeaway for anyone looking to engage a financial adviser is simple: The tech matters. A firm that invests in its systems is a firm that is investing in your experience.
By leveraging “Agentic AI” and integrated data, modern advisers can provide the high-touch, personalised service of a boutique firm with the efficiency and security of a major institution. It’s about clearing the “administrative noise” so that when you sit down with your adviser, the focus remains exactly where it should be: on your life and your goals.
This blog contains information that is general in nature. It does not take into account the objectives, financial situation or needs of any particular person. You need to consider your financial situation and needs before making any decisions based on this information. If you decide to purchase or vary a financial product, your financial adviser, AMP and other companies within the AMP Group may receive fees and other benefits. The fees will be a dollar amount and/or a percentage of either the premium you pay or the value of your investment. Please contact us if you want more information.
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