Emerging Trends in Automated Wealth Management Advice - Cognizant
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DIGITAL BUSINESS
Emerging Trends in
Automated Wealth
Management Advice
As robo advisors expand into more customer segments,
European wealth managers need to respond to the changing
dynamics if they want to stay ahead of emerging providers.
September 2017
Digital Business
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Automated investment advice, or “robo advice,” is reshaping the investment landscape
through the advent of financial planning, investment advice, asset allocation and portfolio
optimisation. With their steadily growing assets under management (AuM), these platforms
are increasingly challenging the value proposition of established wealth managers.
Wealth managers servicing the high-net-worth/ultra-high-net-worth (HNW/UHNW) segment
might want to believe these digital challengers are largely confined to the mass affluent
segment. However, proliferation of these digital platforms into the HNW/UHNW segment
cannot be ruled out. Most full-service wealth managers and specialised asset managers
realise the potential threat, as well as the opportunity, to incorporate these tools to more
efficiently address an under-serviced segment. As a result, they are beginning to review
and enhance their service models.
In this paper, we discuss the changing dynamics of the wealth management industry,
focusing on the European wealth management business models, in terms of evolving
customer expectations and competition from emerging nontraditional providers. We
discuss how the robo advisory model differs from the traditional wealth management
model, and list the options available to wealth managers for improving automation in the
advisory process and digitizing the service model.
Lastly, we present the changes required in these organisations’ business models, and
outline some key considerations that firms need to keep in mind when introducing robo
advisory services.
2 | Emerging Trends in Automated Wealth Management Advice
Digital Business Emerging Trends in Automated Wealth Management Advice | 3
Digital Business
WEALTH MANAGEMENT INDUSTRY AT THE CROSSROADS
A great migration of wealth is occurring in the world, as the baby boomer generation enters retire-
ment. The assets of this generation are now shifting to retirement income and cash products, and are
being transferred to the next generation. This generational shift in the client base is driving significant
change in wealth management offerings that is expected to last over several decades.
This demographic shift is also likely to impact clients’ behavioural characteristics and their expec-
tations from wealth services providers. The younger generation has little or no brand allegiance,
and is largely indifferent to established financial services providers. Sceptical and cost-conscious,
these younger investors are more likely to take advice from several sources rather than remaining
loyal to any single provider, and are very comfortable using digital technologies to conduct business
and transactions.
To stay relevant, advisors must recognise these generational differences and meet the needs of the
new generation, both by reskilling their advisory workforce and adapting their offerings and service
models (see Quick Take, next page).
4 | Emerging Trends in Automated Wealth Management AdviceDigital Business
QUICK TAKE
What the Future Wealthy Seek
from Advisory Services
The future wealthy have very different expectations and demands with
respect to advisory service models. In addition to digital channel fluency,
they have also been impacted by the financial crisis, which has led to a stronger
pre-disposition to validate potential choices before finalising decisions.1
We see five characteristics of the future wealthy:
• Self-directed: Clients value advice when it is required but predominantly
expect to be empowered with their own information. They seek advice from
multiple sources and have a circle of trusted advisors to guide their decisions.
• Cost-conscious: Clients of all generations have also become extremely cost
sensitive. They want to understand the value of the advice, with complete
cost transparency. They also want to understand the value proposition and
explore alternatives rather than taking guidance at face value.
• Digitally native: Younger generations are accustomed to interacting with
pervasive digital platforms, and expect the same level of responsiveness
from their financial services providers. They expect their wealth advi-
sors2 to be transparent and offer customised yet cost-effective solutions
attuned to their particular situations and lifecycle stages.
• Desire for flexibility: This new breed of clients sees only a grey line between off
and on hours, and expects anytime-anywhere service when accessing advice.
• Lack of allegiance: Younger clients do not have strong brand loyalty and are
much more likely to shift their allegiance based on the merits of the offering.
Emerging Trends in Automated Wealth Management Advice | 5Digital Business
THE DIGITAL CHALLENGERS
A new breed of challengers has emerged, in the form of robo advisors, that offers automated advice
and investment management solutions with low barriers to entry, full transparency and low cost of
service.
Technology-driven alternatives for investment management and trading have been around for some
time. However, their impact has been felt more prominently in the past couple of years. One of the
first robo advisors, Financial Engines, is now more than two decades old and began as a solution to
address asset allocation in defined contribution retirement accounts. Over the past half-decade, robo
advisors have evolved as a powerful alternative to established players, grabbing market share and
steadily expanding their capabilities.
Most robo advisors target the mass affluent segment, which is either not addressed or is under-served
by most wealth management services providers. However, these tools will likely grow in sophistication
and relevance to HNW and UHNW investors.
The changing dynamics of the emerging generation of wealthy investors is likely to accelerate the
shift to automated advice. According to A.T. Kearney, the AuM of robo advisors will reach $2.2 trillion
(a CAGR of 68%) by 2020.3
6 | Emerging Trends in Automated Wealth Management AdviceDigital Business
QUICK TAKE
What Are Robo Advisors?
Robo advisors offer access to sophisticated planning and portfolio management
tools that were formerly available only to HNW investors. In addition, advanced
analytics capabilities have become mainstream and are increasingly used to
track investment results and align portfolio allocations against planning goals.
Technology has enabled the creation of personalised trading, allocation strate-
gies and back-testing using large amounts of data. The key components of the
evolving robo advisory platform include:
• Algorithm-driven investing: Beyond replacing human labour for routine and
easily modelled advisory tasks, robo advice also deploys increasingly sophis-
ticated algorithms built to control for risk appetite and cost minimization, and
lower the impact of discretion/emotion in decision-making.
• Low barrier of entry: Mass affluent investors generally do not have access to
human advisors. Robo advisors can even the playing field given their lower fees.
• Low costs: Because the algorithms used by robo advisors can be developed
and then customised, they are significantly cheaper, ranging from practically
free to a fraction of the cost of professional investment assistance.
• Customization: Similar to the standard investment strategy and asset allo-
cation offered by professional advisors, robo advisors are customisable to
specific preferences and principles-based investments, and can work with
various constraints. For example, some investors prefer to steer clear of “sin”
stocks such as tobacco and liquor companies, and robo advisors can ensure
that this preference is considered.
• Greater fee transparency: Robo advisors offer greater transparency into both
the cost and types of financial advice available.
Emerging Trends in Automated Wealth Management Advice | 7Digital Business
A quick comparison of robo advisor platform offerings with traditional wealth managers highlights
some interesting overlaps and contrasts4 (see Figure 1).
Comparison of Offerings from Traditional Wealth Managers and Robo Advisors
DIMENSION TRADITIONAL WEALTH MANAGER ROBO ADVISOR
Business • Personal advice delivered in person. • Algorithmic-based advice delivered online.
• Management of funds is advisor- assisted. • Online customisation.
Model
Target • HNW and UHNW individuals. • Mass affluent.
Market • Investments exceeding $500,000. • Investments up to $250,000.
• Average portfolio size of $500,000. • Average portfolio size of $30,000.
Typical • Full range of investment choices, including Usually limited to:
structured products and leveraged • Exchange traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds.
Products instruments. • Shares and bonds.
A dedicated advisor offering: Automated services that include:
• Financial planning. • Trigger-based portfolio rebalancing.
Typical • Asset allocation. • Tax loss harvesting.
Services • Brokerage. • Simple goal-based retirement planning.
• Mandated portfolio rebalancing.
• Sophisticated tax planning.
Typical Pricing 0.75% to 1.5% of AUM plus management fees. 0.25% to 0.5% of AUM.
Figure 1
OPPORTUNITIES FOR WEALTH MANAGERS
Robo advisors offer wealth management firms a great opportunity to meet the new generation of
clients on their own terms. By combining the human touch of an experienced advisor with the logic,
fee transparency, methodology and accessibility offered by a robo advisor platform, advisors can
significantly strengthen their practice models.
Figure 2 (next page) depicts the advisory services space in which pure robo advisors and traditional
wealth managers are at opposite ends of the spectrum. However, there is a potential untapped service
space representing a broad segment of currently under-served affluent/emerging wealthy clients that
we believe should be a sweet spot for traditional wealth managers if they intelligently re-align their
business models.
However, we also believe fintech robo advisors will pose a stiff challenge to traditional players by grad-
ually consolidating the affluent segment with attractive offerings, and also bringing in the assisted
advice construct.
8 | Emerging Trends in Automated Wealth Management AdviceDigital Business
Untapped Potential for Expansion of Service
Classification of Service Offerings
Niche
5 6 HNW/
Product & Service Offering
Traditional wealth
UHNW management
stronghold
4 Robo advisor
Specialised Affluent' stronghold
3
2 Opportunity space
Retail/Mass for expansion/
Simple affluent consolidation
1
Low Medium High
Human Interaction in Advisory
!"#$%&'
Retail ($))'*+,"-#'
Mass Affluent ./"01%-1'234'
Emerging HNW 234'5'6234'
HNW / UHNW
Financial None/simple Automated Moderately Very sophisticated
Planning retirement planning advice on-demand sophisticated planning planning
Advice/Service Self-service/ Personalised but open Highly
Self-service
Model advisory to selected self-service personalised
Product/Asset Understand Specialised products Customised
Simple
Class product nuances
Risk-taking
Risk Appetite Risk averse High/medium High
appetite
Investment Simple/ Off-the-shelf
Customised Customised
Strategy self-directed models
Figure 2
Wealth managers have consistently invested in improving their portfolio of offerings, and have built
sophisticated tools to support the advisory process, ranging from client profiling, investment strategy
and asset allocation, to performance analysis, rebalancing and reporting.
These tools, however, are dependent on advisors, who form the core value proposition of understand-
ing behavioural aspects and designing custom-made solutions. For most wealth management firms,
the complexity of the investment process and the demands it makes on advisors’ time renders the
model difficult to scale.
Robo advisors provide fully automated investment solutions that can also be customised to client
requirements, and are scalable and cost-efficient. The combined strength of an advisory model and
the scalability and efficiency of automation around core processes provides an interesting opportunity
for traditional wealth management firms. These organisations can drive better investment outcomes
through increased tax efficiency and more focused management and asset allocation design, freeing
up advisors’ time for extending the coverage and focusing on client needs.5
Emerging Trends in Automated Wealth Management Advice | 9Digital Business
Figure 3 shows the automation propensity of the main activities along the financial advisory value chain.
Automating Wealth Management Processes
Current Future
Onboarding Prospect and lead management
Client data collection
KYC
Account opening
Needs Client segmentation
Analysis
Asset and liability analysis
Risk profiling
Financial needs analysis
Goal Retirement planning
Planning
Investment goals
Cashflow projections
Strategy Portfolio modeling
Definition
Asset allocation
Tax consulting
Implement Order and trade management
and Monitor
Performance and risk monitoring
Rebalancing
Reporting
Figure 3
EMERGING TRENDS IN ADVISORY MODELS
We are witnessing an emergence of the “hybrid model,”6 in which advisors combine the foundation
of low-cost automated portfolio management with high-touch services such as comprehensive finan-
cial planning strategies. Although the algorithms used by robo advisors are effective at automated
rebalancing based on fixed allocation models, they still cannot match the experience and judgment of
the human advisor with regard to the timing of the rebalancing and the decision of which positions
to retain or liquidate.
10 | Emerging Trends in Automated Wealth Management AdviceDigital Business
Drivers of the Transition to a Hybrid Advisory Model
Advisor-Independent Advisor-Centric Advisor-Dependent
Self- Directed Validators Delegators
• Growth of passive/ • Democratisation of financial • Comfort, competing
Drivers of model investing (index, ETF). services, products and information. priorities, limited time
Adoption availability.
• Increased investor technology • Availability of digital tools that
savvy (across age cohorts). enhance collaboration; rich
online conversations;
• Ease of retail services
multi-channel access.
integration.
• Increasing wealth, perceived • Analytics enabling deeper • Increased access to
Drivers of value of a plan. customer knowledge, customised information, tools.
Change offers and experiences.
• Market volatility, perception • Transfer of wealth to
of portfolio risk. • Multiple services integrated younger generation.
(i.e., banking) under the same
• Growing comfort with
umbrella.
digital services.
• Increasing wealth, • Analytics enabling deeper • Increased access to
Digital perceived value of a plan. customer knowledge, customized information, tools.
impact offers and experiences.
• Market volatility, • Transfer of wealth to
perception of portfolio • Multiple services integrated younger generation.
risk. (i.e., banking) under the same
• Growing comfort with
umbrella.
digital services.
Figure 4
Human advisors also take into account the assets outside a particular portfolio and market conditions to
protect the client from making decisions based on emotional bias (for example, during a market crash).
Figure 4 depicts the forces that are shaping the transition to the hybrid model and the manifestation
of this change in the advisory model.
Leading U.S. investment managers and broker dealers, such as The Vanguard Group, Fidelity Invest-
ments, Charles Schwab, etc., are setting the trend by including robo advisory features in their offerings.
Clients can select an appropriate model based on their needs.
Opportunities for European Wealth Managers
European wealth managers lag behind their U.S. counterparts in adopting robo advisory models. We
believe there are four potential evolving opportunities for European full-service wealth managers to
include automated advice into their offerings.
1. Hybrid model/advisor on-demand: This is the business model adopted by most upcoming
robo advisory fintech disruptors, providing automated investment portfolio with on-demand
access to advisors. Traditional wealth services providers are uniquely positioned to combat
Emerging Trends in Automated Wealth Management Advice | 11Digital Business
the threat from fintech disruptors. Wealth managers can provide a unique value proposition
to the affluent/mass affluent segment, presenting their deep investment advisory experience
through automation tools, with minimal involvement of investment advisors (see Figure 5).
Traditional wealth management firms considering expanding their services to the mass affluent
client segment may potentially consider two operating models:
• Automated asset allocation: The investment solution is created within a defined universe of
investment vehicles/instruments by algorithms designed to make investment decisions. Cli-
ents’ profiles, preferences and constraints are used to customise the investment decision by
including/excluding certain asset classes or individual instruments. The investment decisions
are granular, while complying with a broader set of investment guidelines.
• Model portfolios: The model allows the firm to devise a set of micro-strategies for a
number of investment profile/risk profile combinations. These micro-strategies are actively
managed, and can be further customised by an advisor through on-demand interactions.
Investment portfolios are then dynamically constructed and periodically rebalanced (as
per offering conditions) based on the selected set of micro-strategies using algorithms.
With these hybrid solutions, firms may provide a combination of rich digital experience and
deep advisory insights to targeted client segments.
Hybrid Operating Model
Clients
Rich digital user experience
(chat, videoconferencing, etc.)
Advisors
Investment
Client Profile: Create
Asset Monitor Performance Universe
• Investment Investment
Allocation and Tracking and Research /
goals Strategy Rebalance Reporting Recommendations
Client Profile: • Risk profile
• Investment goals Market Data
• Risk profile
Fully Automated Digital
Advisory Platform
Create Investment Highly Sophisticat- Partial Sophisticated Sophisticated
Strategy
automated, ed portfolio automation, portfolio manage- portfolio/
Asset Allocation typically manage- supported by ment tools investment
Monitor and using ment tools sophisticated providing performance
Rebalance algorithms to to capture portfolio valuation, reporting
Performance capture and manage management monitoring
Tracking and investment investment tools. Model against strategy
Reporting
goals and risk strategies. portfolios and and constraint,
advisor insight/ model portfolios,
experience. creating
Booking Systems
Figure 5
12 | Emerging Trends in Automated Wealth Management AdviceDigital Business
2. Partial portfolio allocation to automated management: Portfolio managers may delegate part
of the portfolio, possibly driven by asset classes, to fully automated investment management plat-
forms. Firms may do this internally or allow end-clients access to:
• Tools for investment advisors: This capability goes one step beyond robo advisors in that
portfolio managers can fully automate the management of segments of a portfolio using
these tools.
• Self-service/client empowerment: Firms may enable technically-savvy clients to self-man-
age part of the portfolio using a robo advisory platform. Full-scale automation in the HNW
segment may still take a little longer, but some early steps can combine the power of digital
automation with the oversight of experienced advisors.
3. Enhanced decision support tools: The advisory workforce can effectively leverage robo advisory
capabilities or more generic automation of the core investment management processes. In this
model, the portfolio manager may play the role of “supervisor only” for investment decisions in
certain asset classes, for some client segments. Portfolio managers are then free to spend more
time tuning complex yield enhancement products and interacting with clients.
4. Gamification: Gamification can enable wealth managers to add value to the entire value chain,
including product development, marketing and customer education. Wealth management firms
can combine in-house prospects/CRM systems and social media insights to create target lists
of potential clients who would welcome digital engagement. Clients can quickly learn about the
firm’s offerings, while the firm can get deeper insights into customers’ and prospects’ behaviour,
requirements and expectations. They can use these insights to make targeted offerings.
Examples abound of successful gamification initiatives in the financial services space: Sun Life
Financial in Canada has introduced a gamified online program to increase the financial liter-
acy of employees who have a Sun Life workplace retirement plan through their employer. The
game challenges employees to “learn more” and “earn more” by completing levels and missions
that encompass important retirement and investment planning steps. The format of the game,
which requires players to pass levels by demonstrating financial knowledge, appeals to younger
members who are accustomed to quick feedback and tech-based learning. We believe that such
non-invasive, digitally powered offerings will help wealth management services providers attract
younger clients.
Opportunity for Developing New Digital Capabilities
Advice is only one of the components of the wealth services ecosystem. Our research unveiled the sig-
nificant influence of digital intervention across the wealth services value chain, opening opportunities
for wealth managers to provide differentiated offerings to their clients. Figure 6 (next page) highlights
key technology-led intervention possibilities across the wealth management value chain.
Emerging Trends in Automated Wealth Management Advice | 13Digital Business
Potential for Technology-Led Intervention Across the Wealth Management
Value Chain
Execution
Onboarding Profiling Goal Setting Strategy and Monitoring
• Client data • Client profile • Retirement and • Tax consulting • Asset allocation
collection • Asset profile succession • Investment strategy • Portfolio mangement
• KYC • Risk profile planning • Product education • Performance/ risk
• Investment goals • Strategy execution monitoring and reporting
• Research recommendations
• Rebalancing
• Client • Multi-dimensional • Translation of • Asset allocation. • Performance and
KEY DECISION
understanding. client life stage goals attribution.
segmentation. to investment
• Rebalancing.
POINTS
objectives.
• Impact of life
stage events.
CHARACTERISTICS
• Largely • Questionnaire- • Advisor-driven. • Advisor-driven. • Semi-automated.
CURRENT-STATE
compliance based.
• Based on • Based on • High-quality
driven.
• Static. client-shared hard-bucketed reporting, largely
• Structured data. segmentation. paper-based or
• Hard-bucketed
data. with some digital
segments
aspects.
• Find and • Improved • Video chat with • Automated • Use social media
NEW TECHNOLOGY OPPORTUNITIES
engage collaboration advisors. asset allocation as service
prospects and between advisor for certain channel.
• Advisor access
next-gen and client for asset classes.
to financial • Near real-time
clients using information
planning • and personalised
social media. sharing.
applications Algo- alerts .
• Self -service • Clients using using rithm-based
• More accurate
and automa- tablet-based mobile/tablet. monitoring and
risk modeling by
tion in client applications for adjustment of
• Enhance client using multiple
onboarding. key data and portfolio.
profile with data sources.
plan input.
• Use behavioral external data • More accurate
• Automated tax
analytics to • Generate and predict life risk modeling
loss harvesting.
determine 360-degree view events. using analytics
target using data from and simulation.
segments. internal and
external sources.
Figure 6
As firms invest in digital wealth management platforms, we observe the implementation of several
use cases across the value chain that are transforming the overall client experience:
• Digital experience: A seamless, omnichannel experience with robust workflows and data integra-
tion builds the foundation of an enhanced digital experience. Examples include client onboarding,
risk and investment profiling, goal setting and portfolio creation, simulation capabilities, etc.
Investments in technology will drive the maturity curve toward intuitive, paperless processes with
modern UX design, providing personalised and contextual information for the customer journey.
• Analytics: We have found increased application of data science in establishing multi-variable
micro-segmentation to better understand client needs, and develop actionable insights to improve
14 | Emerging Trends in Automated Wealth Management AdviceDigital Business
customer satisfaction and retention through contextually customised proposals. Data sources
could include the customer profile, e-mail and call records with advisors and publicly available
information (including from social media). Investing in targeted analytics that help marketing,
such as next-best-offer models, will further enable development and positioning of new products.7
Behavioural analytics (psychographic, tone and sentiment analysis) helps advisors predict client
preferences regarding investment products and asset allocation.
• Investment education and more effective communication: Simple and easy to understand videos
and blogs are used to inform clients about products and strategies (e.g., tax loss harvesting). Several
wealth services providers with leading digital offerings are already integrating multiple channels (such
as Schwab’s Investing Insights) that contain useful information on a wide range of investment topics.
More effective communication is a key capability required for digital advice. Helping clients achieve
long-term financial goals by avoiding common mistakes, such as holding levels of liquid cash or
buying high and selling low, helps digital advisors earn trust and prove the maturity of the client
service model.8 Wealth services providers are also obliged to ascertain the client’s understanding
of products and overall financial awareness under investor protection regimes such as MiFID II.
They are, therefore, deploying multiple digital knowledge management tools rather than tradi-
tional paper-based information.
• Collaboration: Client-advisor and client-firm interactions are increasingly becoming virtual,
encouraging organisations to deploy all available and secure means of collaboration to speed
up information exchange and remove bottlenecks from the advisory process. Such collaboration
enables clients to communicate with the firm using Internet-based audio/video chat or advisors
to conduct financial plan reviews and investment performance reviews using screen sharing, etc.
Other emerging use cases for collaboration include electronic document sharing and secure digital
signatures between the client and the firm.
• Transparency: The use of automated technology increases transparency, since everything that
is routed through automation engines can be recorded and easily reported to the client. Periodic,
regulatory reporting – monthly, quarterly or annually – is easily automated as a result.
• Investor communities: Networks of clients play an important role in self-service scenarios, shar-
ing relevant information about current and past performance, as well as best practices on different
aspects of investment. Members of investor forums earn badges/points based on the “up votes”
received from other members of the community, thus establishing legitimacy. Communities play
an important role in beta testing new functionalities and algorithms for robo-advisory firms
• Open platforms: Financial services providers are increasingly using open API frameworks that
allow third-party products and services to be sold through the bank’s channels, advisors and digital
platforms. Using the same mechanism, firms are also allowing their products and services to be
accessible to other firms on an as-needed basis.
Build, Partner or Buy
We already see a number of leading financial services providers integrating fintech capabilities into
their core business model. Many leading wealth managers have built or are currently working on
Emerging Trends in Automated Wealth Management Advice | 15Digital Business
incorporating robo advice capabilities into their advisory offerings. These firms are taking different
approaches to grow their robo-advisory capabilities:9
• Partnering with robo-advisor firms (i.e., Wells Fargo and SigFig): Partnering with an existing
robo advisor can enable traditional firms to react quickly and at lower cost. The organisation can
quickly deliver advantages through process automation, cost reduction and new customers. This
model involves a trade-off between costly infrastructure changes and flexibility.
• Building in-house capabilities (i.e., Vanguard): Traditional advisors can develop an in-house
platform for both existing clients and new investors. This enables advisors to promote a low-cost
alternative to traditional advisory services and provides the flexibility to offer varying functionality
to attract new investors.
• Acquiring established robo advisors (i.e., Northwestern Mutual’s acquisition of LearnVest):
Acquiring a robo advisor is not an easy option. The key is to identify a business that can potentially fit
within the organisation and has a growing client base. Though this is an accelerated route to market
for traditional wealth management firms, integration with the acquired platform can be challenging.
Regardless of the model they choose, firms are likely to face significant challenges in transforming
their business, operations, technology processes and core platforms.
LOOKING AHEAD
Before seeking to develop robo advice capabilities, organisations must think carefully about several
key considerations:
• Product and investment strategy: Robo advisors’ asset allocation is usually made up of low-
cost exchange traded funds (ETFs) across multiple asset classes that maximise the return for
the level of risk acceptable to the customer (the so-called “efficient frontier”). Depending on
the operating model choice, firms need to consider:
ĔĔ Are ETFs already part of the existing asset universe?
ĔĔ In which other asset classes does the firm need to develop expertise to be able to offer more
automated, low-cost solutions?
ĔĔ Does the firm have existing model portfolios leveraging product segmentation that may
support automated/self-service models?
• Sales channel: Working with a robo advisor system increases sales efficiency by granting access
to advisors (e.g., Fidelity and Charles Schwab). Key elements to consider when reviewing new/
hybrid sales models leveraging automation include:
ĔĔ What are the business goals – extend client coverage, improve the client experience, provide
more self-enablement, etc.?
ĔĔ In addition to advisory process automation, which other digital initiatives is the organisation
considering to improve sales efficiency?
16 | Emerging Trends in Automated Wealth Management AdviceDigital Business
ĔĔ How will the firm deploy these digital tools to maintain and improve clients’ “high touch” experience?
ĔĔ Has the firm planned client education sessions to make them aware of self-service options,
and how can clients best leverage the new automated offerings?
• Fee structure: Robo advisors offer lower fees and minimum investment thresholds for
discretionary portfolio management compared with traditional wealth managers (e.g., typ-
ically less than 1% of AuM for investments of $1 million or less). Incorporating these fintech
solutions in wealth managers’ core offering poses some questions:
ĔĔ How does the organisation intend to pass on the benefits of automation to its HNW/UHNW
clients (e.g., reduction in fees based on usage of alternative channels or improved user
experience such as more advisor time, etc.)?
ĔĔ Has the business planned/developed business cases for extending its offerings (either fully
automated advice or an advice-on-demand model) to other client segments?
• Technology: The primary computing techniques that enable robo advisors to provide effec-
tive, unbiased financial advice are driven by artificial intelligence and process automation.
Some important questions to consider before adopting these disruptive technologies (i.e.,
evolving toward a hybrid model of advisor-assisted provisioning of automated advice) include:
ĔĔ What is the current level of in-house technology competencies to support the understand-
ing and internalisation of the selected approach of build, partner or buy?
ĔĔ Does the firm offer any new digital capabilities to clients, such as gamification, investor
communities, collaboration, online training and information?
ĔĔ What is the investment appetite to support and drive digital ecosystems that would improve
the efficacy of automated advice?
ĔĔ How scalable are current-state advisory and booking platforms? Services to client segments
such as the mass affluent are likely to significantly increase processing volumes.
ĔĔ What are the integration challenges anticipated in offering interoperable or even stand-
alone automated advisory platforms that work with the firm’s current infrastructure?
• Legal and compliance: While robo advisors are subject to the same regulations as tradi-
tional wealth services providers, key questions relate to the interpretation and applicability
to software and algorithms when provisioning digital advice (also pointed out in a recent
FINRA report):10
ĔĔ What is the firm’s planned approach for monitoring and oversight of automated advice, par-
ticularly in the self-service channel, in view of regulations around investor protection and
the client’s best interest?
ĔĔ How can the business effectively balance advice in hybrid/advice on-demand models, in which
the client may start with self-service but subsequently require human advisory services?
Emerging Trends in Automated Wealth Management Advice | 17Digital Business
FOOTNOTES
1 “Roadmap for a New Landscape: Managing the Transition of Wealth Across Generations,” State Street Global Advisors, March
2016. https://www.adviservoice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Managing-the-Transition-of-Wealth-Across-Generations.
pdf.
2 Greg King, “Four Emerging HNWI Expectations Wealth Managers Must Meet,” Factset, July 2016,
http://insight.factset.com/four-emerging-hnwi-expectations-wealth-managers-must-meet.
3 “Hype vs. Reality: The Coming Waves of ‘Robo’ Adoption,” A.T. Kearney, June 2015,
https://www.atkearney.com/documents/10192/7132014/Hype+vs.+Reality_The+Coming+Waves+of+Robo+Adoption.pdf.
4 “Can Robo Advisers Replace Human Financial Advisers?” The Wall Street Journal, Feb. 28, 2016,
http://www.wsj.com/articles/can-robo-advisers-replace-human-financial-advisers-1456715553.
5 Steve McLaughlin, “The Emergence of Automated Digital Wealth Management Solutions,” Financial Technology Partners LP,
June 2016, https://swissfinte.ch/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/FTPartnersResearch-DigitalWealthManagement.pdf.
6 “Embracing Change as Opportunity: Harness the Power of the ‘Robo-advisor’ in Your Practice,” State Street Global Advisors,
2016, https://us.spdrs.com/docs-advisor-education/practice-management/business-development/Embracing_Change_as_
Opportunity_080216.pdf.
7 “Digital Banking: Enhancing Customer Experience; Generating Long Term Loyalty” Cognizant Technology Solutions, https://
www.cognizant.com/InsightsWhitepapers/Digital-Banking-Enhancing-Customer-Experience-Generating-Long-Term-Loyalty.pdf.
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per/viewpoint-digital-investment-advice-september-2016.pdf.
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ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Sanjay Bhanot is Vice-President at Cognizant and leads Cognizant
Consulting’s Banking and Financial Services Practice in continen-
tal Europe. He has 30 years of industry experience in defining and
delivering business solutions, and has worked in a variety of engage-
ments, including delivering turnkey projects, product development,
implementations and product management. Sanjay is an alumnus
of the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi. He can be reached at
Sanjay.Bhanot@cognizant.com
Sanjay Bhanot
Vice President, Cognizant
18 | Emerging Trends in Automated Wealth Management AdviceDigital Business
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Saugata Chaudhuri is a Senior Consulting Manager within Cogni-
zant Consulting. He has 15 years of experience in IT and consulting,
focused on capital markets engagements, and is involved in multi-
ple consulting assignments in areas such as digitization, asset and
wealth management, market and reference data, and collateral
management. His areas of expertise include business analysis, func-
tional architecture and project management. Saugata has worked
with leading financial services institutions across the globe. He can
be reached at Saugata.Chaudhuri@cognizant.com.
Saugata Chaudhuri
Senior Consulting Manager,
Cognizant Consulting
Aniruddha Ghosh is a Consulting Manager with Cognizant Con-
sulting’s Banking and Financial Services Practice. He has roughly
14 years of industry experience in business analyst and consul-
tant roles in multiple engagements with leading financial services
institutions. He specializes in business analysis and functional
architecture in the areas of private banking, trade order manage-
ment, risk reporting and regulatory implementations. Aniruddha
has strong knowledge of securities and is a Certified FRM from
GARP. He can be reached at Aniruddha.Ghosh@cognizant.com.
Aniruddha Ghosh
Consulting Manager, Cognizant
Consulting’s Banking and
Financial Services Practice
Sachin Dhamde is a Senior Consultant within Cognizant Con-
sulting’s Banking and Financial Services Practice. He has over 10
years of IT and consulting experience spanning front-office trade
and order management systems, middle-office and back-office
operations across investment banks, asset management firms
and proprietary trading firms. Sachin has a management degree
from Institute for Financial Management and Research, Chennai,
with a specialization in finance/marketing. He can be reached at
Sachinvasudeo.Dhamde@cognizant.com.
Sachin Dhamde
Senior Consultant, Cognizant
Consulting’s Banking and
Financial Services Practice
Emerging Trends in Automated Wealth Management Advice | 19ABOUT COGNIZANT CONSULTING
With over 5,500 consultants worldwide, Cognizant Consulting offers high-value digital business and IT consulting services that improve
business performance and operational productivity while lowering operational costs. Clients leverage our deep industry experience, strat-
egy and transformation capabilities, and analytical insights to help improve productivity, drive business transformation and increase
shareholder value across the enterprise. To learn more, please visit www.cognizant.com/consulting or e-mail us at inquiry@cognizant.com.
ABOUT COGNIZANT
Cognizant (NASDAQ-100: CTSH) is one of the world’s leading professional services companies, transforming clients’ business, operating and
technology models for the digital era. Our unique industry-based, consultative approach helps clients envision, build and run more innova-
tive and efficient businesses. Headquartered in the U.S., Cognizant is ranked 205 on the Fortune 500 and is consistently listed among the
most admired companies in the world. Learn how Cognizant helps clients lead with digital at www.cognizant.com or follow us @Cognizant.
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