The WealthTech Insider

We all love a shiny new system — but what happens after the demo? In this candid episode, Danni Le Grande is joined by Selin Ertac from Tangelo Advice Consulting to unpack the all-too-common disconnect between technology rollouts and the people expected to make them work.From war stories of disengaged teams and overcooked implementations, to practical strategies for meaningful, human-first change management — this is a must-listen for anyone tired of throwing good tech at bad processes.They dive into:Why change fatigue derails even the best softwareThe underestimated power of clear processes and role definitionThe sneaky pitfalls of “just one more feature” thinkingThis one’s for the Ops Leads, Paraplanners, Practice Managers — and the Firm Leaders who want tech to stick.Danni Le GrandeSelin ErtacFinura Group: https://finuragroup.com/

This week on The WealthTech Insider, Danni and Pete dive into the AI hype cycle — and why the gap between flashy announcements and real-world impact matters more than ever for advice firms and tech providers.Using Apple’s recent WWDC as a launchpad, they explore what happens when expectations soar and delivery stumbles — and what smaller players can learn from it. From voice assistants that still don’t listen, to CRMs that try too hard, it’s a candid conversation about usability, adoption, and the actual value of AI in advice.Plus, they unpack fresh insights from the latest Technology Health Check survey:What are firms really expecting from AI? Are they prepared for it? And is “just being useful” enough?In this episode:Why delivering less (but better) wins in advice techWhat your firm’s AI readiness really looks likeWhy invisible, intuitive tools beat bold but baffling onesWhat advice firms should expect — and ask — from their softwareHow to avoid building features no one asked forWhether you’re building tech or buying it, this one’s packed with practical insights, a few laughs, and a healthy dose of perspective.https://finuragroup.com/tech-health-check/Peter WornDanni Le GrandeFinura Group

Why do smart, successful business owners keep making tech decisions that come back to bite them? Danni and Pete unpack it all — from submarines driven by PlayStation controllers to advice firms stuck with expensive systems no one uses.In this episode:*The surprising parallels between the OceanGate tragedy and everyday tech decisions in advice practices*The true cost of chasing shiny tools — from wasted fees to worn-down teams*How small missteps — like skipping due diligence or underestimating change fatigue — quietly snowball into major headaches*And a few laughs along the way about F1 steering wheels, hot yoga, and why you might want to leave software picks to someone other than your mates.Whether you’re knee-deep in a new platform rollout or just wondering if your tech stack could use a rethink, this one’s packed with candid stories, fresh perspectives, and tips to help you steer clear of the avoidable disasters.https://finuragroup.com/tech-health-check/Danni Le GrandePeter WornFinura Group

In Part II of our founder series, Peter Worn and Aron Satchell get brutally honest about building software in the wealth management space. They reveal the millions they're investing in their advice generation platform, why they deliberately avoid hiring salespeople, and their contrarian take on the AI revolution sweeping FinTech.What You'll Learn:The hidden costs of building compliant financial software (spoiler: it's way more than you think)Why most AI-powered advice tools are solving the wrong problemTheir unique approach to product-led growth without a sales teamThe technical reality behind "AI that writes SOAs in minutes"How they're planning for the post-DBFO advice landscapePerfect for: FinTech founders, wealth management professionals, anyone building B2B software in regulated industries, and those curious about the real challenges of startup life beyond the Silicon Valley hype.This isn't your typical "we raised $X million" startup story – it's an unfiltered look at building sustainable software businesses in complex, regulated markets.www.finuragroup.comwww.advicedesigner.com

The unfiltered origin story of Finura co-founders Peter Worn and Aron Satchell. From meeting as strangers in a corporate turnaround to building two businesses during a pandemic, this is the real story behind their decade-long partnership, including the sacrifices, the near-misses, and the people who helped them along the way.

In this episode, Peter Worn speaks with Tony Stephens from Business Health about the challenges faced by small business owners in the financial advisory industry. They discuss the importance of practice management, the need for investment in technology, and the significance of client feedback. Tony shares insights on key metrics for success and offers advice on business planning for the upcoming financial year. The conversation concludes with optimistic predictions for the future of the industry, emphasising the potential for small businesses to thrive.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Business Health and Tony Stephens04:33 The Challenges of Small Business Owners09:01 Navigating Growth and Change11:37 Building Rapport with Business Owners14:29 Investment in Technology and Its Impact18:45 Client Feedback and Technology Integration22:45 Key Metrics for Business Success23:25 Understanding Revenue Per Client32:46 The Importance of Business Planning38:28 Optimism for the Future of the IndustryLinks:www.businesshealth.comwww.finuragroup.com

In this episode of The WealthTech Insider, Danni Le Grande, Head of IFA Consulting at Finura Group, sits down with Simon Betchley, Head of Institutional Consulting, to unpack the wild and often underestimated beast that is revenue management in financial advice businesses.Revenue in advice firms is messy—really messy. Payments flow in from hundreds of different product providers, each using their own file formats, labels, and naming conventions. Add in platform fees, direct debits, fee-for-service models, clawbacks, and legacy business, and you’ve got a data nightmare. No standardisation, no shortcuts, and a whole lot of Excel.Enter Revenue Management Systems (RMS). These tools exist to make sense of it all—collating, cleaning, splitting, reconciling, and delivering a standardised view of revenue across your business. But they’re not silver bullets. And as Danni and Simon discuss, the best results come when firms put in the work.So what sets the high-performing firms apart? It’s not just having an RMS—it’s how they use it. From deep client segmentation to cost-to-serve analytics, smart firms are leveraging revenue data to make strategic decisions, drive profitability, and build more scalable businesses.If you're still manually wrangling data or you're not getting the most out of your RMS, this is the deep dive you didn’t know you needed.🔗 Learn more at www.finuragroup.com

In this episode of The WealthTech Insider, host Danni Le Grande is joined by Nicole Smith, founder of Socialisd, to unpack what modern marketing really looks like for financial advice firms.Nicole shares why digital marketing isn’t just about getting more clients. It’s about storytelling, retention, team engagement, and building brand trust (before you need it). The conversation dives into real-world insights from Finura’s Tech Benchmarking Data, the often-overlooked power of email marketing, how AI can be your marketing wingman, and why social media is more than a “nice to have.”Whether you're reluctant to post, still sharing blogs without context, or ready to empower your team to step into the spotlight, this episode is packed with practical advice to help advice firms own their digital presence with purpose and personality.

It’s a special episode of The WealthTech Insider as the Finura girls take over the podcast for the very first time! Join host Danni Le Grande as she’s joined by powerhouse colleagues Helena Klokova and Dipal Khatri to dive into the often-overlooked heroes of financial advice firms—the back and middle office teams.From navigating tech frustrations to uncovering inefficiencies, we discuss real challenges these teams face, why firms are still stuck in manual processes, and what the data from our tech health benchmarking tells us about the future of automation in financial services. Are we embracing change or just drowning in spreadsheets? Plus, we share our own experiences (and frustrations!) with tech adoption, integrations, and the myths of automation.This episode is packed with insights, laughs, and some hard truths about the state of wealth tech. Tune in for a fresh, unfiltered take on what’s working, what’s broken, and how firms can truly level up their operational game. Takeaways:✅ Why back and middle office teams are the industry’s unsung heroes✅ The struggle with CRMs, automation, and workflow integration✅ Why tech adoption isn’t just about the software—it’s about strategy✅ The real ROI of taking the time to get your tech stack right🔗 Don't forget to check out our Tech Health Benchmarking Survey at www.finuragroup.com to see how your business stacks up!

In this episode of The WealthTech Insider, host Danni Le Grande sits down with Peter Worn, Joint Managing Director at Finura Group, to challenge the conventional reliance on PowerPoint presentations in the corporate world. They explore how PowerPoint, while a useful tool, can often become a productivity drain and stifle genuine conversation. Drawing from personal experiences and industry insights, Danni and Peter discuss alternative methods to enhance storytelling, improve meeting engagement, and boost overall productivity. Tune in to discover how ditching the deck might just be the key to more effective communication in your business.

In this episode of The WealthTech Insider, Danni Le Grande and Peter Worn dive into one of the biggest challenges in AI adoption: Should large companies try to integrate AI into their existing businesses, or would they be better off starting fresh?With a staggering failure rate for digital transformation projects, companies face an uphill battle retrofitting AI into old systems. Peter breaks down the "Retrofit Tax", explaining why AI implementation is about more than just technology—it’s about overcoming legacy systems, organisational resistance, and cultural inertia.We explore lessons from IBM, Microsoft, and Salesforce, discuss the rise of AI-native startups, and debate whether the best strategy for big business is to compete with itself before someone else does.🔹 Why do most digital transformation projects fail?🔹 What makes AI-native startups so much more agile?🔹 Can large companies truly rebuild themselves with an AI-first culture?🔹 And is AI a threat to jobs—or just a trigger for smarter business models?It’s a bold discussion with real-world implications for business leaders, innovators, and investors navigating the AI revolution.📩 Subscribe to Pete’s 5-Minute Friday insights at finuragroup.com.🎧 Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share the episode!

In this second part of our deep dive into compliance, host Danni Le Grande is joined again by Selin Ertac from Tangelo Advice Consulting to tackle Tangelo's next two critical pillars: Process and governance. While WealthTech plays a crucial role in driving efficiency, today’s discussion focuses on why technology alone isn’t the solution—and how businesses must first get their processes and governance right to truly unlock its potential.They explore:✅ The biggest compliance risks of overcomplicated processes✅ Why human oversight is still essential in an AI-driven world✅ How to use process mapping to remove inefficiencies✅ The importance of risk management & business oversightIf you're looking to streamline operations, enhance compliance culture, and build a scalable advice business, this episode is packed with practical strategies. Plus, don’t miss insights on Tangelo’s Gap Analysis and Finura Group’s Technology Health Check—essential tools to help you optimise your firm's efficiency.

In this episode of The WealthTech Insider, host Danni Le Grande sits down with Mark Zaglas, CEO of Encore Advisory Group, to explore the key challenges and strategies financial advisory firms must embrace to unlock scalable growth. They dive into why many Advisers have lost focus on sales and marketing, the importance of a structured growth strategy, and how technology can be leveraged to enhance client engagement.Mark shares insights on overcoming the fear of marketing, clarifying your value proposition, and why social media remains an underutilised tool in the industry. They also discuss the significance of intergenerational wealth transfer, identifying your niche, and the myth of organic growth.If you're looking to build a sustainable and scalable financial advice business, this episode is packed with actionable takeaways to help you refine your approach and invest in long-term success.🎧 Tune in now to learn how to reignite your sales and marketing engine and take your Advice Business to the next level!

In this episode of The WealthTech Insider, host Danni Le Grande and Peter Worn dive into the evolving role of AI in financial services. They explore the concept of the ‘Value Trap’—where AI has the power to revolutionise industries but may struggle to generate sustainable profits.From investment risks and industry adoption to the future of AI as a financial utility, Danni and Peter unpack the realities of AI’s role in WealthTech. They discuss how financial firms are navigating this landscape, the importance of responsible AI usage, and whether AI’s profitability challenge mirrors the airline industry’s struggles.With insights from the Finura Group, this episode tackles the burning question: Will AI make anyone rich, or is it just another overhyped innovation?Key topics:The AI Value Trap: Can AI be both transformative and profitable?Investing in AI: Opportunities vs. risks.AI adoption in financial services—where do firms stand?AI as a utility: How should businesses think about it?Regulation, responsibility, and the future of AI in finance.Join us for a deep dive into the realities of AI in WealthTech!

In this episode of The WealthTech Insider, host Danni Le Grande sits down with compliance expert Selin Ertac to explore the critical role of people, policy, and technology in ensuring effective compliance within wealth management. They dive into the importance of role clarity, the challenges of resistance to change, and how technology can streamline compliance processes. From crafting meaningful policies to integrating compliance into business operations, this conversation highlights the strategies firms can use to enhance efficiency, reduce risk, and foster a culture of compliance.Tune in for key insights on simplifying compliance, leveraging technology, and ensuring your team is equipped to navigate the evolving regulatory landscape. Don’t miss Part 1 of this insightful two-part series!