The WealthTech Insider

Mark Zaglas is back. Our most downloaded guest ever returns to go a level deeper on what's changed since last year's "Stagnation to Scale" episode — and a lot has changed. Encore Advisory Group has been acquired by Evidentia, Mark has launched his Big Six Insights series, and the industry is facing an inflection point where the pace of change has doubled but the margin for error has halved.In this episode, we unpack the rise of the COTO (Chief Operating and Technology Officer) — a concept Mark has coined for advice businesses that can no longer treat operations and technology as separate functions. We dig into why so many firms are still running on rusted sales engines, why confidence is the barrier nobody talks about, and what it actually looks like to unrust your growth capability in 2026.We also flip the script — Mark interviews Danni on what she's seeing with AI in advice practices, from foundation models to purpose-built agents, and why the firms winning right now are the ones mapping their processes first and applying AI to the right jobs second.Plus: the client who showed up to a review with their own Claude-generated financial plan, why operations is like an escalator you never get off, and Mark's 5P growth engine audit you can do in 90 minutes this quarter.If you enjoyed Stagnation to Scale, this one picks up exactly where we left off — and goes deeper.Take our free Technology Health Check at finuragroup.com to see where your practice sits.#finuragroup #technology #dannilegrande #encoregroup #financialadvice

Pete's latest Code & Capital sparked a big conversation — why are Advice Practices still tempted to rip out their CRM when the data says it rarely ends well? Danni brings the receipts from Finura's Technology Health Check: only 17% of Practices are actually planning to move, barely half use their CRM as a source of truth, and 80% don't even run an RFP when choosing new tech. We also dig into the real risks of Advisers building SOAs in ChatGPT, why clients are now using AI to check their Adviser's AI, and whether we're breeding a generation of professionals who can't think without a chatbot. Plus: Amdahl's Law, the $30 billion CRM switching industry, and why tidying up your shop beats chasing shiny new tools.#finuragroup #peterworn #dannilegrande #technology

In this episode of The WealthTech Insider, Danni Le Grande and Peter Worn unpack a deceptively simple question that opens a much bigger conversation: why do so many AI tools have human — and overwhelmingly female — names?What starts as a light observation quickly turns into a deeper discussion about trust, subconscious design choices, and the risks of anthropomorphising technology in professional environments. From “Sophie the assistant” to “Colin from compliance”, Danni and Pete explore how naming AI shapes behaviour, lowers scepticism, and may lead us to over-trust systems that are still fallible — particularly in regulated industries like financial advice.This isn’t a culture-war debate or an anti-AI rant. It’s a grounded conversation about awareness: how AI is being designed, why familiarity matters, and what professionals need to keep front-of-mind as human-like software becomes embedded in daily workflows.#finuragroup #technology #ai #dannilegrande #peterworn

Most Australians have critically low financial literacy, yet the advice industry is sitting on a golden opportunity to change that—and unlock billions in advice demand. Marcus Field from Iris sheds light on groundbreaking research that reveals the true scale of Australia's financial capability crisis and how a strategic shift in education, regulation, and advice delivery can turn unmet needs into national productivity.This episode exposes why financial literacy has declined despite access to more information than ever—and how societal, educational, and industry blind spots are exacerbating the problem. You’ll discover the seven mega-trends transforming advice by 2030, including the demand for lighter, scalable guidance that reaches millions more Australians. Marcus shares concrete frameworks for redefining guidance versus advice, tackling the persistent money taboo, and embedding financial well-being into workplaces and schools.We break down the critical role advisors and employers can play in closing the financial literacy gap—especially for women, pre-retirees, and the next generation. This episode reveals how agencies and fintechs can leverage trust, education, and targeted digital solutions to turn financial capability into a sustainable, scalable revenue stream.Perfect for advice professionals, fintech innovators, and industry leaders committed to societal impact and growth—this is your blueprint to help millions get financially savvy while transforming your business. The opportunity to shape Australia’s financial future—and profit from it—is here. Will you take it?Download IRESS's full research report a thttps://info.iress.com/thebiglift and learn how redefining guidance could be the game-changer your firm needs now. Don’t miss this vital conversation on a national challenge with a profitable solution in sight.https://info.iress.com/thebiglift

In this special episode of The WealthTech Insider, Danni Le Grande and Peter Worn unpack Finura’s official 2026 WealthTech Predictions and discuss what these trends actually mean for Advice businesses on the ground.From the coming AI governance reckoning and the real risks Advisers are underestimating, to the rise of platform oligopolies, shifting Licensee and Managed Account dynamics, and the technology pricing reset, this episode explores where capital, power and risk are concentrating in the advice ecosystem.They also examine why digital advice isn’t for everyone, how global AI players are eyeing Australia, what happens when personal AI collides with compliance-heavy workplaces, and why Claude may emerge as the enterprise AI of choice in 2026.This conversation is practical, candid, and grounded in what Finura is seeing every day with Advice firms — designed to help Teams make better decisions in an increasingly complex tech landscape.#technology #predictions

What does a successful Tech Transformation actually look like inside a growing Advice firm?In this episode of The WealthTech Insider, Danni Le Grande speaks with Simon Backman, CEO of Wahlstrom Financial Services, about the reality behind modernising Advice delivery — from early resistance and change fatigue to measurable time savings and a better client experience.Simon reflects on why Tech should amplify people, not replace them; how disciplined rollout and ownership drove adoption; and why clients feel the outcomes of good tech long before they notice the tools themselves.An honest, grounded discussion for Leaders who want progress without hype — and transformation that actually sticks.#finuragroup #technology #wealthtech #dannilegrande

Featuring a new Finura Client: Verse WealthWhat happens when you throw out the traditional financial advice playbook — but keep the discipline, compliance and rigour that actually protects clients?In this episode of WealthTech Insider, Peter Worn sits down with Corey Wastle, founder of Verse Wealth, one of Australia’s most quietly radical advice firms. Corey didn’t come up through the usual financial-planning ranks. He came from marketing, brand and customer experience — and he used that lens to design Verse from a blank page.Together they unpack how Verse was built differently from day one:How technology isn’t used to automate advice — but to deepen human connectionWhy organic growth beats aggressive scaling in a trust-based businessAnd how Verse created a new role — the Client Experience Manager (CXM) — to bridge the gap between compliance, advisers and clientsThis isn’t a story about disruption for disruption’s sake.It’s about what modern financial advice looks like when it’s designed properly — from culture and technology to client experience and long-term trust.If you’re building, running or investing in an advice business, this episode is a glimpse into what the next generation of firms will look like.

A short, informal welcome back to 2026. Danni and Pete catch up after the break and run through what’s coming up on The WealthTech Insider this year. #finuragroup #wealthtech #technology #peterworn #dannilegrande

Most Australians have critically low financial literacy, yet the advice industry is sitting on a golden opportunity to change that—and unlock billions in advice demand. Marcus Field from Iris sheds light on groundbreaking research that reveals the true scale of Australia's financial capability crisis and how a strategic shift in education, regulation, and advice delivery can turn unmet needs into national productivity.This episode exposes why financial literacy has declined despite access to more information than ever—and how societal, educational, and industry blind spots are exacerbating the problem. You’ll discover the seven mega-trends transforming advice by 2030, including the demand for lighter, scalable guidance that reaches millions more Australians. Marcus shares concrete frameworks for redefining guidance versus advice, tackling the persistent money taboo, and embedding financial well-being into workplaces and schools.We break down the critical role advisors and employers can play in closing the financial literacy gap—especially for women, pre-retirees, and the next generation. This episode reveals how agencies and fintechs can leverage trust, education, and targeted digital solutions to turn financial capability into a sustainable, scalable revenue stream.Perfect for advice professionals, fintech innovators, and industry leaders committed to societal impact and growth—this is your blueprint to help millions get financially savvy while transforming your business. The opportunity to shape Australia’s financial future—and profit from it—is here. Will you take it?Download IRESS's full research report a thttps://info.iress.com/thebiglift and learn how redefining guidance could be the game-changer your firm needs now. Don’t miss this vital conversation on a national challenge with a profitable solution in sight.https://info.iress.com/thebiglift

Most Australians have critically low financial literacy, yet the advice industry is sitting on a golden opportunity to change that—and unlock billions in advice demand. Marcus Field from Iris sheds light on groundbreaking research that reveals the true scale of Australia's financial capability crisis and how a strategic shift in education, regulation, and advice delivery can turn unmet needs into national productivity.This episode exposes why financial literacy has declined despite access to more information than ever—and how societal, educational, and industry blind spots are exacerbating the problem. You’ll discover the seven mega-trends transforming advice by 2030, including the demand for lighter, scalable guidance that reaches millions more Australians. Marcus shares concrete frameworks for redefining guidance versus advice, tackling the persistent money taboo, and embedding financial well-being into workplaces and schools.We break down the critical role advisors and employers can play in closing the financial literacy gap—especially for women, pre-retirees, and the next generation. This episode reveals how agencies and fintechs can leverage trust, education, and targeted digital solutions to turn financial capability into a sustainable, scalable revenue stream.Perfect for advice professionals, fintech innovators, and industry leaders committed to societal impact and growth—this is your blueprint to help millions get financially savvy while transforming your business. The opportunity to shape Australia’s financial future—and profit from it—is here. Will you take it?Download IRESS's full research report a thttps://info.iress.com/thebiglift and learn how redefining guidance could be the game-changer your firm needs now. Don’t miss this vital conversation on a national challenge with a profitable solution in sight.https://info.iress.com/thebiglift

In this final episode for 2025, Danni and Pete cut through the noise to review the trends that actually mattered. We look back at our 2025 Predictions with a critical eye—discussing why the AI hype has cooled into "AI fatigue" and why the industry is finally embracing Platform Monogamy.We also explore the rise of "Boring by Design" AI agents , the concept of keeping a "human on the hook" for compliance , and why the best tech strategy for many firms might just be simplification.In this episode:The Prediction Scorecard: Assessing our calls on advice tech R&D, PE entry and Industry Super insourcing.The AI Reality: Why we’re seeing a shift from flashy tools to practical, ring-fenced agents for file notes and workflows.Tech Breakups: Why firms are realising that moving CRMs is rarely the silver bullet they hope for.Gadget Geek-Out: From the Mac Mini win to the disastrous Humane AI pin, plus the weird world of AI pet translators.Diary of a CEO Episode with Steven Bartlett and Tristan Harris:-https://doac-perks.com/r/GhRQ03uolQ?e=BFU1OCkhBwo#stevenbartlett #doac #tristanharrisTake the Technology Healthcheck here:-https://technologyhealth.scoreapp.com/#peterworn #dannilegrande #finuragroup

Harvey AI has gone from newborn startup to an $8 billion juggernaut in just 31 months. But behind the headlines sit harder questions: opaque pricing, patchy adoption, defensive founders, and a conservative profession wrestling with risk.Danni and Pete cut through the noise to explore what this means for financial advice firms — from realistic ROI to cautious experimentation and the increasing need for human oversight. Less hype, more sense-checking, and a reminder that AI is useful… but it’s not magic.#technology #peterworn #dannilegrande #finuragroup

In this special announcement episode, Danni and Pete sit down to talk about the next stage of Finura's growth plans. Finura is formally separating its consulting and software arms into two businesses — Finura Services and Finura Digital — each with its own purpose, priorities and rhythm.They walk through why the change matters, how it strengthens both sides of the business, and what it means for advice firms working with Finura today (in short: nothing disruptive, entirely BAU). Pete also shares the thinking behind bringing in a strategic investor for the software business. And together, they explore how consulting and software will continue to support each other.A candid conversation from the inside of our business. And how we see the next phase of building an enduring great company.#peterworn #finuragroup #dannilegrande #technology

Pete and Danni unpack the wild rise of Harvey.AI — thelegal-tech darling that raised US $865 million in just 31 months and hit a US $5 billion valuation. They trace how a Reddit side-project turned into a Silicon Valley feeding frenzy, and ask whether this is genius or a bubble waiting to burst.The chat veers from law-firm FOMO and elite-bait marketingto what it all means for financial-advice tech, touching on California’s new AI laws, the environmental cost of compute, and why “boring by design” might actually be the smartest strategy in AI adoption.Expect sharp numbers, dry humour, and a few hard questionsfor every adviser thinking of hitching their tech stack to the next shiny AI promise.#peterworn #dannilegrande #financialadvice #wealthtechTake our Technology Health Check here:-https://technologyhealth.scoreapp.com/

In this episode, Peter Worn sits down with Matthew Vandermeer from Leading Teams to unpack what makes teams—and leaders—great. The conversation explores how the financial services industry is evolving, why culture matters as much as strategy, and how technology can either strengthen or fracture team dynamics if not led with clarity.Matthew shares lessons from his experience building high-performing teams and draws an unlikely but powerful parallel with the Brisbane Lions’ return to glory—how clear vision, strong leadership, and trust in the process can turn a struggling side into a winning organisation.This episode is a deep dive into the mechanics of culture, feedback, and leadership—and a reminder that great businesses, like great footy clubs, are built from the inside out.Links: https://www.leadingteams.net.au/https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattvanders/💡 Key TakeawaysThe advice industry is changing—fewer advisers, but greater demand for quality advice.Culture and mechanics must work hand-in-hand; one without the other won’t scale.Leaders set the tone through daily actions, not slogans.Feedback should be part of the rhythm, not reserved for when things go wrong.Recruit for cultural fit first, operational skill second.Trust is the foundation for open communication and accountability.Technology should enhance, not replace human connection.Great culture drives performance, retention, and satisfaction.Regular reviews and honest conversations keep teams improving.Like the Brisbane Lions, success comes from clarity, cohesion, and belief in the system.Chapter List: Chapters00:00 Introduction and Background of Matthew Vandermeer03:12 Current State of the Industry06:06 Leading Teams: Mission and Approach11:55 Culture vs. Mechanics in Teams17:35 Defining and Building Culture23:13 The Role of Leadership in Culture24:57 Leadership and Culture in Sports and Business29:20 Modeling, Rewarding, and Challenging Behavior34:14 Overcoming Resistance to Change38:15 Recruiting for Success: Mechanics vs. Dynamics44:40 Feedback and Communication in a Tech-Driven World

Recorded Live from the Netwealth Accelerate Summit. Pete & Danni spend time with Sophie Firminger from Netwealth unpacking a real life cast study of a tech project which went horribly wrong. 00:00 Introduction to Advice Tech Challenges01:09 Real-Life Tech Implementation Disasters03:43 Evaluating Technology Solutions06:14 The Importance of Team Involvement09:07 Red Flags in Tech Selection11:49 Managing Project Risks and Leadership Involvement14:50 Governance Failures in Tech Projects17:32 Change Management and Team Morale20:29 Private Equity and Tech Integration23:17 Lessons Learned from Tech Failures25:57 Practical Steps for Successful Tech Implementation27:16 finura_group outro (1).mp3

Danni Le Grande and Peter Worn put their 2025 predictions under the microscope. From adviser numbers and platform monogamy to AI agents and YouTube marketing, they track the wins, the misses, and what’s still up for grabs.Expect sharp takes on margin squeeze in AdviceTech, private equity’s reshaping of the landscape, and why industry funds are still dragging their feet on tech. Plus: are AI “virtual team members” hype or reality?

Come behind the scenes and listen to one of Peter's live presentations, including some controversial audience Q&A. It's unfiltered, unedited. Chapters: 00:00 The Future of AI in Healthcare and Financial Advice19:10 Investing in AI: Short-Term Strategies20:55 Valuations and Market Trends in AI23:13 Consumer Adoption of AI Technologies26:33 Training and Preparing for AI Integration28:47 The Importance of AI Strategy in Business32:21 AI's Impact on Financial Services33:06 Q&A: Addressing AI Concerns and Misconceptions

In our first-ever live recording of The WealthTech Insider, Danni Le Grande and Peter Worn hit the stage at the IRESS WealthTech Summit to revisit — and ruthlessly score — the predictions we made for advice tech in 2025.Recorded in front of a room full of industry pros (and without the safety net of a mute button), we dive into what’s tracking, what’s tanking, and what’s surprised us most about the year so far.We cover:Why AdviceTech feels stuck in neutral — and whether adviser tech fatigue is realThe slow but steady rise of platform monogamyWhy industry super is scrambling to fix the member experience (and stop outsourcing accountability)What private equity really wants from advice firms (hint: it’s not just scale)AI everywhere — and the caution tape that should come with itWhy some advice firms are overspending on enterprise tech they don’t needPlus: how podcasts and YouTube quietly became advice firms’ secret marketing weaponExpect candid takes, live banter, and some good old-fashioned “we called it” moments.

In this episode, Peter Worn sits down with Paul Feeney, CEO & Co-Founder of Otivo, to thrash out one of the biggest debates in financial advice right now: Can AI deliver safe and useful guidance, or will ChatGPT-style tools create more risk than reward?We unpack the rise of consumer-led AI, the dangers of unfiltered “DIY advice,” and how Otivo is tackling the challenge head-on with an AI chat assistant built for real people, not experiments.If you care about the future of advice, compliance, and keeping technology on the rails, this conversation will give you a front-row seat to where the industry is heading.Chapters:Chapters00:00 Introduction to AI in Financial Advice02:23 Paul Feeney's Journey and Ativo's Genesis04:39 The Evolution of Ativo and Its Mission08:23 User Experience and Simplifying Financial Advice11:24 The Role of AI in Financial Advice14:07 Consumer Interaction with AI for Financial Guidance17:43 The Future of AI in Personal Finance20:52 Implementing AI in Financial Services26:04 AI-Driven Compliance and Human Oversight26:42 The Role of AI in Financial Advice27:52 Personalised Financial Insights through AI29:17 User Experience and Engagement in Financial Platforms31:02 The Future of Financial Advice: AI and Human Interaction32:42 Proactive Engagement with Superannuation Funds34:59 The Importance of Personal Advice in Superannuation36:53 Building Trust through Personalised Financial Advice38:17 The Need for Digital Tools in Financial Advice40:57 Accessibility and Inclusivity in Financial Services42:46 The Future of Financial Advice: Digital First Solutions