A combination of free-flowing data, trusted AI and mobile adoption will drive a generational shift in access to financial advice and support over the next 12 months, says Ben Goss, CEO of Dynamic Planner.
Looking ahead to 2026, Goss said the new technology making an impact is model context protocols – a way for AI agents to talk to each other. While the technology is still at a very early stage, the traction is “ferocious”, he said.
“Within advice firms, there’s a push towards open systems and open APIs. Interconnected systems with free-flowing data create tremendous potential to lift the administrative burden from advisers, enabling them to focus on the client relationship,” Goss explains.
The rise of AI has also had an impact on the advice sector and in 2026, it has the potential to accelerate time savings from automation “beyond recognition.” The next phase is agentic AI, which combines the reasoning power of LLMs with the ability to carry out tasks more autonomously.
However, Goss said the challenge would be capturing the opportunities it presents while maintaining the care vital to financial advice.
“Combining AI with deterministic modelling, using data you can trust, is key to driving consistent, policy-driven outcomes,” he said.
Next year will also see an uptick in mobile adoption, with client expectations set to drive financial planning app adoption. According to Goss, this will create capacity for firms to service every client, no matter their goals, financial position or location.
Goss also touched upon targeted support. He said that among those who have received financial advice in the previous 12 months, targeted support boosts intention to act by 10%, as the trust and confidence that come from receiving financial advice carry through.
“The potential that opens up for a light-touch service, particularly for those early in their wealth journeys, is significant,” he explains.
Finally, Goss said there will be a greater push for certainty next year, against a backdrop of structurally higher volatility.
“Firms are focusing on what they can control,” he said. “The rise of vertical integration brings with it a need for certainty from farm to fork: from investment management to the end client. As a result, we’re seeing greater reliance on risk targeting – around both our benchmarks and custom benchmarks.”
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