The ifatools.ai blog
Insights on AI for financial advisers
News, guides and practical thinking on AI in UK financial advice, from the team building ifatools.ai.
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45 articles
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Recording client meetings: the rules for financial advisers
What the FCA rules actually say about recording client meetings, why COBS 11.8 moved to SYSC 10A, what is and is not required for face-to-face meetings, and good practice if you do record.
Clearing an annual review backlog: a practical catch-up plan
A practical plan for clearing an annual review backlog: size it, triage by risk, record contact attempts, speed up preparation and stop it recurring, with the FCA's ongoing advice findings and CP26/10 proposals.
Scope of work in financial planning: how to write a clear one
How to write a clear scope of work in financial planning: what to include, how to describe the ongoing service and charges under COBS 6.1A, the right to cancel, and a checklist before you send it.
AI vendor due diligence: questions to ask before you sign
A vendor-neutral due diligence checklist for advice firms buying any AI tool: data flows, model training, hosting, security evidence, the DPIA, accuracy, supervision, exit and pricing, with what good answers look like.
The Consumer Duty board report: a practical guide for advice firms
What PRIN 2A.8 asks of your annual Consumer Duty board report, what the FCA found in year two, and how to make your management information link clearly to client outcomes and decisions.
Cash savings advice: why advisers should give cash more attention
Why cash savings advice deserves a place in your service: the FCA's cash findings, Financial Lives figures, Bank Rate, and a practical process for evidencing a savings recommendation.
Will AI replace financial advisers? A grounded answer
A balanced look at whether AI will replace financial advisers: what the rules require a person to do, which tasks are moving to software, what the advice gap figures say, and where advisers should focus.
Training and competence for financial advisers: rules and evidence
The training and competence rules for financial advisers in plain English: CPD hours, the Statement of Professional Standing and regular competence reviews, and how to evidence competence consistently.
Explaining charges to clients: growth, contributions and value
A practical guide to explaining charges to clients in annual reviews: separating investment growth from money paid in, showing charges in pounds year on year, and linking it all to the price and value outcome.See it before you decide.
Six apps that take file checks, annual reviews, client documents and meeting coaching off the desk, from £49 per adviser per month. See them run live on a demo firm in a twenty-minute call, with nothing to prepare.