Swift Chat with Michael Rose: How Technology is Shaping Wealth Management

In this Swift Chat conversation, Marie Swift speaks with Michael Rose, CFP®, MST, Director of Wealth Management Research​ at Cerulli Associates, a leading global research, consulting, and analytics firm specializing in asset management, wealth management, and financial services, to discuss Cerulli’s 117-page 2025 study on U.S. wealth management technology, zeroing in on how digital tools are transforming the independent advisory space and service delivery for both clients and advisors.

Rose dives deep into the evolving landscape of wealth management technology and its impact on financial advisors and shares insights from Cerulli’s extensive research, discussing how the rise of independent advisory channels is reshaping advisor technology needs. He explains the increasing responsibility advisors have in building and managing their own tech stacks outside of traditional broker-dealer infrastructures, while also dealing with the growing expectations investors have for personalized and comprehensive financial planning, which pressure advisors to do more with stable fees, making technology and productivity critical themes.

Rose emphasizes practical solutions, such as all-in-one technology platforms, and the pivotal role of educational conferences, like the T3 Technology Conference, in helping advisors keep pace and build competitive tech stacks. The conversation strikes a balance between excitement about AI-driven innovation and recognition of the ongoing challenges advisors face in maximizing technology’s benefits to deliver better client outcomes, providing a nuanced perspective on the opportunities and hurdles in technology adoption within the wealth management industry today.

Learn more about Michael Rose, CFP®, MST, and Cerulli Associates at www.Cerulli.com

Listen to Podcast / audio version

---

Summary of the Conversation

The conversation revolves around the evolution of wealth management technology and its growing impact on financial advisors. Rose covers trends toward advisor independence, the increasing need for customized tech stacks, mounting client expectations, and the promise and challenges of artificial intelligence in the industry. He highlights both the opportunities and hurdles that wealth management professionals face as they adapt to an increasingly complex and tech-driven landscape.

Insights and Takeaways 

Rise of Advisor Independence

• Advisors are moving away from traditional broker-dealers, taking control of their own technology choices and infrastructure.
• This shift creates new opportunities for customization, but also significant challenges in selecting, integrating, and maintaining the right tech stack.

Technology as a Productivity Driver

• Technology is crucial for meeting rising client expectations for more comprehensive and personalized financial planning services without increasing costs.
• Tools that automate workflows and enhance operational efficiency enable advisors to maintain profitable fee structures even as service demands grow.

Artificial Intelligence’s Future Potential

• AI is in its early stages within wealth management, but anticipated to greatly improve both the quality and efficiency of client service.
• Advisors can expect increased adoption of AI for planning, strategy development, and automating routine tasks, though regulatory and adoption challenges remain.

Complex WealthTech Ecosystem

• Advisors choose from nearly 20 categories of technology, including investment management, financial planning, and operational tools.
• Investment tools tend to be more mature and widely adopted, while specialized planning and operational tech lag due to complexity and time constraints.

Key Barriers to Tech Adoption

• The most commonly cited obstacles are lack of integration among systems, compliance restrictions, limited training, and insufficient time to evaluate and implement new solutions.
• Industry leaders point to the need for more robust user education, best-practice sharing groups, and integrated all-in-one platforms.

Value of Industry Communities and Conferences

• Conferences like the T3 Technology Conference and dedicated training resources help advisors stay informed and make thoughtful tech decisions in a crowded, ever-changing landscape.
• Ongoing education and access to peer-driven support networks can empower advisors to fully leverage technology for better client outcomes and business growth.

find more great swift chats here!