What the AI wave means for our team, our clients and why we’re quietly optimistic.
If you spend even a few minutes scrolling LinkedIn these days, you’ll be hit with a wave of posts about AI revolutionising financial advice. We’re seeing tools that promise faster analysis, more efficient back-office work and even more ‘human’ client conversations - all thanks to artificial intelligence.
It’s exciting stuff. But at Town Close, it also feels... familiar.
Because people-first isn’t a new direction for us - it’s the one we’ve always been walking in.
The hype is catching up with the heart
We’ve never believed financial planning was really about spreadsheets, projections or economic commentary (though we do all that too). We believe it’s about people. About listening well. Understanding lives. And helping clients navigate change, not just markets.
That’s always been our starting point not an add-on.
So when we see the world of financial planning discovering the value of “soft skills,” empathy, better conversations and goal clarity - powered by AI tools - we’re nodding along. We’re not defensive or dismissive of the technology. We’re actually curious and optimistic.
What it means for our team
For us, AI is a powerful assistant, not a replacement. If it can help us save time on repetitive admin, or show clients their future in a clearer way, we’re all for it. But it won’t replace the team’s role as thoughtful guides and real human sounding boards.
In fact, it frees us up to do more of the meaningful stuff. More coaching. More thinking. More empathy. More planning.
What it means for our clients
Our clients won’t wake up to robo-advisers at the end of the phone. But they might notice more clarity in their plans, quicker answers to common questions and new ways to explore "what if" scenarios. Behind the scenes, we’ll be using tools that make us sharper – without losing sight of what matters: their story.
So where are we heading?
We’ll keep doing what we’ve always done: putting people first. Listening first. Planning with heart, not just with numbers.
But we’re glad the rest of the world is catching on.