Financial Planning Stories

Australian Stories

Financial Planning stories

Selfwealth launches managed portfolios to fill advice gap

Rising advice fees and shrinking access are pushing more Australians towards low-cost managed portfolios that can be used without lock-ins.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Last week

Digital Transformation

Australian SMEs stay on target as confidence weakens

Despite softer confidence, most Australian SMEs still expect to meet targets, with price rises and technology investment helping offset cost pressure.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 5 min read • Last month

Global Stories

Financial Planning stories

Artificial Intelligence

Finance leaders favour visibility & planning over cuts

More finance teams are using data and planning tools to protect growth spending as volatility makes broad cuts less attractive.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Yesterday

Digital Transformation

LendWell signs biggest UK deal with SPF Private Clients

The rollout could free up advisers' time by cutting mortgage administration, while giving the software firm a stronger foothold in the UK market.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Last week

Customer Relationship Management

Zocks links client data platform to Claude for advisers

Advisers can now draft reviews and tax summaries with client context drawn from Zocks' conversation data, while keeping access read-only.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Last month

Fintech

Anthropic introduces Claude for financial advisers

Advisers could save hours on prep and compliance as the new Claude plugin links into portfolio, CRM and planning systems, Anthropic said.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 5 min read • Last month

Disaster Recovery

CISO-CFO alignment key as cyber insurance market shifts

With premiums flat for now, buyers who tie cover to outage costs can avoid nasty surprises when cyber insurers start tightening terms.

By Richard Seiersen • 5 min read • Last month

Fintech

Vancouver & Toronto rank mid-table in bunq cost index

Rent is the main pressure point in Vancouver and Toronto, where housing takes up most monthly outgoings despite mid-table overall living costs.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 4 min read • Last month

Software-as-a-Service

Practifi launches Sentir AI CRM for wealth managers

Wealth advisers will get daily briefings and AI-led workflow support as Practifi splits its platform into two products, Sentir and Naya.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Thu, 27th Aug 2026

Stories from Other Regions

Financial Planning stories

Data governance

Conference Board sets five-stage AI agent work framework

As spending rises, employers are being urged to redesign tasks around AI agents or risk automating the wrong work without measurable gains.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 4 min read • Last week

Data Analytics

PolyAI appoints Sunil Shah as Chief Financial Officer

The hire comes as the AI software group expands its platform and looks to boost investment in customer-facing tools.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 3 min read • This month

Data Analytics

AI and data reshape finance, tax and hiring practices

Taxpayers, recruiters and operations teams face tighter decisions as AI speeds up workflows and Making Tax Digital forces more frequent reporting.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • This month

Software-as-a-Service

BEYLA strikes Visa deal to boost AI tools for SMBs

The tie-up could help small firms spot cash-flow risks and growth opportunities faster, while keeping owners in control of any action.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • This month

Data Protection

NatWest tests AI spending insights & fraud support

Customers will be able to query spending patterns in natural language as the bank expands in-house AI after launching fraud triage support.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Last month

Encryption

Bill Harris launches Evergreen.ai financial advice app

It aims to widen access to personalised money guidance as consumers increasingly turn to AI for budgeting, investing and tax help.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Last month

Digital Transformation

Britons turn to AI for finance advice as much as parents

A survey of 2,000 adults suggests AI is overtaking friends and media as a source of money help, despite lingering doubts over accuracy.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Last month

Customer Relationship Management

Focal AI launches agentic platform for Canadian advisers

Advisers could reclaim hours each week as the new software auto-fills forms, drafts emails and updates records after client meetings.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Last month

Fintech

April adds tax planning insights for wealth advisers

Wealth advisers can now use client-authorised IRS records to spot planning opportunities around stock, conversions and estimated payments more easily.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Last month