The conversation around artificial intelligence in financial services is getting louder, but adoption is a different story.
Family Wealth Report US Correspondent Charles Paikert covered the topic extensively this week from the T3 Technology Conference in New Orleans, and Affiliated Advisors President Rita Robbins was among the industry voices weighing in.
The piece explores why advisors remain cautious despite the growing wave of AI enthusiasm from software vendors. Security and privacy concerns top the list of hesitations, along with compliance ambiguity: including unresolved questions from the SEC about whether AI-generated content qualifies as part of an advisory firm's official books and records. Beyond the regulatory landscape, human nature plays a role, too.
"It's also the fear of the unknown," Rita told the publication. "This is all brand new."
That candor cuts to the heart of where many advisors find themselves right now: interested, but not yet ready to commit. The article notes that 90 percent of U.S. advisors surveyed by Advisor360 expressed interest in using AI to expand service offerings, yet the gap between interest and action remains wide.
What bridges that gap? Rita's prescription centers on peer influence. "Advisors will listen to successful advisors," she said, advocating for the use of tech champions to drive adoption from within advisor communities. It's a philosophy that aligns closely with how Affiliated Advisors has always operated: through peer learning, shared best practices, and real-world guidance.