It’s kind of a hard time to be an abbreviation or an acronym.
This week, again, we have a lot to talk about in our AI & Finance headline rundown, because the flow of wealthtech information has accelerated once more, while the flow of news in the wealth management universe continues to slow.
This time around, though, I’m going to address something that has been in the financial news a lot recently—the pullbacks from initiatives around environmental, social and governance investing, or ESG, and from diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, or DEI.
No matter what your opinion on ESG or DEI or how they were implemented or enforced over recent decades, for the sake of writing, I’m moving forward with an assumption—and it may be a pollyanna assumption—that these movements were initiated with purely good intentions to try to help better the human condition. Thus, my assumption is also that all the problems associated with these initiatives were due to a few bad actors, a lot of bad press, some misapplications and many, many mistakes.
Whatever the problems were, the winds of public opinion now seem to be blowing against DEI and ESG, those winds are carrying politics along with them, and companies are definitely taking notice. Just as “DOGE” is taking a chainsaw to federal agencies, businesses and institutions are chopping away many of their DEI and ESG functions.
The latest news in this arena this week comes first from UBS, which has chosen to stop reporting diversity targets, specifically around gender and race, in its annual reports to emphasize a focus on merit in hiring and promotions. Then, J.P. Morgan Asset Management officially left the Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative, citing changes in the regulatory environment.
At the same time, however, impact-investing oriented firms are noting an increase in interest in their services, according to a recent Wealth Management article.
It’s not hard to put the pieces together here—federal and state policies are moving from being supportive of DEI and ESG initiatives to being at best neutral towards these initiatives, and for the average investor, the incentives for DEI and ESG-centered enterprises are being reduced. For certain investors, especially those of a certain level of wealth and with a particular interest in ESG and diversity issues, are looking for some way to take action as they feel politically neutralized.
It’s possible for both a pullback from ESG and DEI, and for increased investor interest in ESG and DEI to happen simultaneously. Progress usually happens in fits and starts and suffers many reversals.
So what does all this have to do with wealthtech? Well, in recent weeks we’ve noted that wealthtech seems to be eclipsing wealth management in certain ways, while commentators from the wealth manager’s perspective have continued to assert their belief that, due to continued growth in demand for wealth management, traditional wealth management firms will endure.
It’s possible both for traditional wealth management to recede and be overtaken by technology and automation, while, at the same time, demand for traditional wealth management services increases, particularly among certain segments of consumers. The transition towards technology and automation may take a generation or more, will happen in fits and starts, and will certainly suffer many reversals along the way.
Let’s get to your headlines.
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Advisor360
Advisor360°, a leading provider of integrated technology solutions for wealth management firms, has relocated its corporate headquarters to 400 First Avenue in Needham, Massachusetts. The 6-year lease for 83,516-square-feet of space across two floors was brokered by Christopher Decembrele of JLL Boston.
With 60% of Advisor360°’s 500-person workforce based in the new headquarters, the move reflects the company’s dynamic hybrid work model. The modern, open-concept space is designed to support employee engagement and growth as the company continues delivering best-in-class digital wealth management solutions.
This move is the latest in a series of strategic growth initiatives for Advisor360°. Earlier in March, Advisor360° launched Tandem™, its first cloud-based CRM solution tailored for independent RIAs. In January, the company acquired Parrot AI, a Boston-area technology leader specializing in generative AI solutions for advisors.
Advyzon
Advyzon, a comprehensive technology platform and portfolio management solution for financial advisors and investment managers, today announced that it was selected by Indivisible Partners, a privately-owned independent advisory firm, to form the nucleus of its wealth platform.
To succeed, Indivisible Partners must give advisors a technological framework that the advisor and client can customize together to suit their individual needs. The Indivisible Partners Wealth platform delivers an innovative, highly customizable technology platform purpose-built for collaboration between advisors and clients.
Advyzon, the all-in-one core advisor platform, will serve as that foundational hub. Engineered for efficiency, the system integrates and consolidates all aspects of an advisor’s practice into a single operating environment, enhancing advisor productivity through interoperable data flows and built-in workflows. With full customization for both advisors and clients, advisors can architect a team experience to elevate their practice while creating a highly curated digital experience for clients.
Alkymi
Alkymi, the leading solution for private markets data and workflows, today announced the secure deployment of its platform for asset and wealth management firms as part of an integration with Google Cloud. Leveraging Google Cloud advanced infrastructure and technology — including GeminiAI models, Document AI, and agentic AI — Alkymi will deliver seamless cloud migration, enhanced operational efficiency, and innovative industry solutions tailored to the unique needs of financial firms.
Private market assets are set to grow at a rapid pace worldwide, with Bain & Company forecasting a 9% to 10% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) that could see assets under management (AUM) reach between $60 and $65 trillion by 2032. This growth rate is more than double that of public markets, positioning private assets to constitute 30% of total AUM within the next decade.1 Investments in private assets create complex data challenges and operational bottlenecks for asset managers struggling to manage massive amounts of portfolio, risk, customer, transaction, and operational data within their firms. Alkymi meets this industry challenge with an AI-powered data platform that transforms accounting, performance, risk, and valuations workflows.
Alkymi is launching its first Google Cloud deployment in Damman region in Saudi Arabia, leveraging Google Cloud Sovereign Controls by Partners to meet the region’s stringent data security, privacy, and compliance requirements. Within this environment, Alkymi will have access to the Arabic-language models in Google Gemini that are being enhanced in a partnership with the Public Investment Fund. Google Cloud’s commitment to supporting and accelerating the AI-driven digital transformation goals of Saudi Arabia aligns with Alkymi’s expansion into the region, addressing the stringent regulatory needs of our clients.
Altruist
Altruist, the modern custodian transforming the registered investment advisor (RIA) industry, has named Rich Rao its Chief Business Officer (CBO). Rao, a recognized leader in scaling businesses and optimizing go-to-market strategies, has held executive roles at Google, Meta, and Intuit. He will drive Altruist’s market expansion, strengthen advisor partnerships, and ensure sustainable growth as the company redefines custody for independent financial advisors.
Rao has helped scale some of the world’s most recognized technology companies. At Google, he was instrumental in turning Google Workspace into a multi-billion-dollar enterprise solution. He later led the Small Business Group at Meta, driving a significant portion of the company’s revenue growth and scaling the organization. In his most recent role as Chief Sales Officer at Intuit, Rao led the acceleration of the company’s growth by launching a new product and go-to-market motion to serve larger businesses.
Altruist’s continued investment in top leadership underscores its commitment to long-term industry leadership. The recent addition of Sumanth Sukumar as Chief Technology Officer further reflects the firm’s focus on building an enduring and trusted financial services platform.
CAIS
CAIS, the leading alternative investment platform for financial advisors, today introduced CAIS Models Marketplace, a centralized hub developed to streamline access to alternative investment model portfolios. The platform provides wealth management firms with a range of multi-asset and multi-manager alternative investment models, while enabling advisors to more efficiently allocate to private markets and hedge funds.
The Models Marketplace is integrated with CAIS Compass, a portfolio construction tool that offers CAIS platform users the ability to analyze how alternative investments would affect certain portfolio characteristics. Using CAIS Compass, platform users can review model portfolio target asset class weights to analyze risk and return before making an investment decision. CAIS Compass also includes the option of an AI-driven summary in an accessible format.
The 2025 CAIS and Mercer Survey found that 77% of advisors would use or consider model portfolios to streamline allocations, with nearly half (47%) citing model portfolios as a top resource for portfolio construction. The survey collected responses from 550 financial advisors in September and October 2024.
Cambridge Investment Research
Cambridge Investment Research, Inc. (“Cambridge”), a leading independent financial solutions firm serving 3,800 advisors nationwide, is pleased to welcome Sean Van Moorleghem as Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer. In this role, Van Moorleghem will lead Cambridge’s technology initiatives, overseeing the development and execution of innovative products, services, and systems that drive growth for the firm and its advisors. He also joins Cambridge’s Executive Council, where he will work with executive leaders to support firm-wide strategic goals.
Van Moorleghem joins Cambridge from Charles Schwab, where he held various technology-focused leadership roles at TD Ameritrade before its acquisition by Schwab in 2020. During his nearly 15-year tenure at Schwab/TD Ameritrade, he led multiple software engineering departments and played an important role in advancing platform modernization, implementing AI-driven automation, and supporting the firm’s transition from project-based to product-focused investment strategies. His extensive technology experience also includes leadership positions at West Corporation, First Data Corporation, and Deloitte.
Van Moorleghem earned a bachelor’s degree in management information systems from the University of Nebraska and completed the Securities Industry Institute (SII) Executive Leadership program at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
The Canton Network
The Global Synchronizer Foundation, in conjunction with the Canton Network, the world’s only public layer one blockchain network with control and privacy, today announced that Goldman Sachs, Hong Kong FMI Services Limited, and Moody’s Ratings have joined the Global Synchronizer Foundation (GSF) as its newest members. The additions to the GSF underscore the growing momentum and trust Canton Network fosters across the financial services industry.
These institutions’ collective commitment to participation in the GSF comes at a pivotal moment for the Canton Network, as the momentum behind tokenized assets grows and market leaders seek to unlock the potential of synchronized financial markets. Their inclusion reinforces the adoption of a decentralized financial infrastructure that prioritizes privacy, control, and seamless interoperability—a combination essential for regulated financial institutions.
The Global Synchronizer is a cornerstone of the Canton Network’s decentralized infrastructure, providing real-time synchronization and interoperability for regulated financial assets. Unlike traditional systems that rely on centralized governance and data silos, the Canton Network is governed by a community of participants, including financial institutions, fintech innovators, and service providers. This structure ensures that no single entity controls the network, enabling greater trust, resilience, and innovation.
Conquest Planning
Conquest Planning Inc. (“Conquest”), a technology platform modernizing financial planning with customized and convenient advice, today announced a partnership with PWL Capital (“PWL”), a planning-focused wealth management firm managing $5 billion in assets for more than 2,300 client families.
PWL has a proven history of adopting innovative digital solutions to enhance its services. For example, the firm was the first to integrate more than 4 million data points to forecast different sequences of market returns. By incorporating Conquest’s advanced tools into its existing proprietary technology, PWL is further enhancing its ability to deliver truly personalized financial plans tailored to each client’s specific needs.
Conquest’s Strategic Advice Manager (SAM) will support PWL in delivering industry-leading financial planning. The AI-powered planning tool generates highly personalized, adaptable financial plans, which can evolve in real-time to meet individuals’ changing needs. By modeling a wide range of financial scenarios, SAM enables advisors to present clients with potential outcomes based upon various strategies, facilitating more informed decision-making.
Copia Wealth Studios
Copia Wealth Studios today announced the launch of “Copia – Clarity,” an advanced wealth management platform designed specifically for sophisticated allocators managing diverse investment portfolios. The new solution addresses the growing complexity faced by successful entrepreneurs and family offices who manage multiple alternative investments across fragmented investor portals.
The launch comes at a time when AI adoption in wealth management is accelerating rapidly. Recent industry research indicates that 90% of investors believe AI can effectively assist in researching financial products and services, while 80% see its potential in enhancing portfolio management.
Exhibit A
Today marks the official launch of Exhibit A, a platform designed to improve client engagement and decision-making via visually compelling charts and accompanying context. Conceptualized and launched through executives from Ritholtz Wealth Management (RWM), a registered investment advisor (RIA) managing over $5 billion in assets for high-net-worth clients and institutions, Exhibit A extends RWM’s expertise to other RIAs and financial advisors, aimed at fostering deeper client relationships.
For years, RWM has used charts and visual storytelling to explain market trends and financial concepts across its widely read blogs, hit podcasts and social media platforms. Now, advisors can leverage that same approach to engage their own clients more effectively. Exhibit A helps them explain complex financial concepts and data sets clearly, making it easier to engage clients and build trust. Building on RWM’s reputation for clear, no-nonsense financial commentary and data-driven insights, the platform launches with over 100 of wealth management’s most premiere charts and 10 pre-built deck templates, which are updated daily, helping advisors turn raw data into clear, compelling insights. The platform also allows for full customization, enabling advisors to brand content with their logos, color schemes and required disclosures for a polished, professional look.
Exhibit A turns historical and real-time market data into uniquely engaging charts and graphs that illustrate investing principles, investment performance and risk exposure at a glance. Clear visualizations highlight key takeaways such as investment growth, asset allocation and economic impacts, making it easier for advisors to connect with clients and drive them toward smarter financial decisions. Feedback from early adopters has been overwhelmingly positive, with beta users praising Exhibit A’s ability to illustrate and communicate complex financial topics in visual formats that resonate with investors.
Forge
Forge Global Holdings, Inc. (“Forge,” or the “Company”) (NYSE: FRGE), a leading private market platform, announced today the appointment of Brian McDonald to its Board of Directors, as well as to its Audit Committee and Risk Committee.
Mr. McDonald brings to Forge decades of leadership experience in financial services, wealth management, and digital business. Most recently, he served as Managing Director, Head of Direct and Institutional Businesses at Morgan Stanley, where he helped build and lead Morgan Stanley at Work, one of the world’s largest workplace financial platforms. Before that, he spent over 20 years at Charles Schwab, leading workplace and retail service functions, ultimately serving as Senior Vice President. His leadership has been instrumental in developing innovative financial solutions and advancing strategic initiatives within the industry.
In addition to his executive leadership roles, Mr. McDonald has been an advisor to companies focused on AI-driven investment platforms and digital transformation in wealth management. He is also an investor in the financial services and financial technology sectors, currently serving on the boards of two companies as an Executive in Residence at TIFIN, an AI platform for asset, wealth, and insurance services. Mr. McDonald holds a B.A. in Economics from Indiana University and an M.B.A. from Ball State Graduate School of Business.
Future Capital
Future Capital, a tech-enabled registered investment advisor (RIA) with over 20 years of specialized experience in retirement solutions, and Michigan-based financial services firm, Hantz Group (a Financial Services Holding Company), today announced their partnership, enabling Hantz advisors to better manage clients’ held-away 401(k) assets. This collaboration comes at a critical time, as retirement accounts now represent 56% of financial assets for households with $100,000 to $2 million in investments.
By utilizing Future Capital Core, Hantz advisors can now provide professional 401(k) management services to their clients. This helps advisors integrate their clients’ workplace retirement accounts with their comprehensive financial planning goals. This addresses a significant market need because while defined contribution plans hold $11.3 trillion in assets across 80 million participants, 97% of these participants may benefit from working with a financial advisor who can provide comprehensive guidance.
This collaboration reflects growing demand for integrated retirement guidance across the wealth management industry. In addition to partnering with Hantz, Future Capital also recently began working with AssuredPartners Investment Advisors and Axos Clearing, and is now available via SS&C’s Black Diamond Wealth Platform.
iCapital
Stockbridge, a leading real estate investment management firm with $33.9 billion in assets under management, is excited to announce its partnership with iCapital1, the global fintech platform driving the world’s alternative investment marketplace for the wealth and asset management industries. With the partnership, Stockbridge’s investment products will be available via iCapital Marketplace, the industry’s destination for alternative investments.
In early 2025, Stockbridge launched its Private Wealth division, aiming to secure capital from accredited investors. This strategic expansion from a solely institutional investor base into the private wealth sector will enable Stockbridge to enhance investor diversification across the firm.
Financial advisors and their accredited investors now have seamless access to Stockbridge’s products through iCapital’s advanced technology and Marketplace platform. With a streamlined and enhanced investment experience, advisors and their clients can concentrate more on reaching their investment objectives.
Jump
As part of a broader AI strategy to drive efficiency and innovation for wealth advisors, Dynamic Advisor Solutions dba Dynamic Wealth Advisors (Dynamic) has partnered with Jump, a leading provider of AI solutions for financial advisors and other financial services providers, to enhance its Wealth360™ platform. This integration alleviates cumbersome administrative tasks —such as meeting preparation, note-taking, compliance documentation, CRM updates and client follow-ups — allowing advisors to dedicate more time to their clients and business growth.
Wealth360 is Dynamic’s fully integrated tech stack, providing advisors with a premier platform featuring a best-in-class fintech suite accessible via a single sign-on. With the addition of Jump, advisors can leverage AI-driven efficiency to enhance productivity, ensure compliance and elevate client engagement.
Upon Jump sign up, Dynamic advisors are provided with a free trial and enterprise pricing as part of the Wealth360 platform. The announcement coincides with Dynamic’s upcoming webinar, “AI & Advisors,” on March 20, where Matt Furness, senior account executive at Jump, will join Patrick in discussing generative AI trends for advisors and how best to engage with the technology. They will also highlight the successes behind the Jump-Dynamic collaboration that have helped realize a better way to simplify advisor workflows through AI-powered automation.
Luminary
Luminary, an award-winning estate planning technology platform, today announced the launch of its Dispositive Provision Extraction tool. This new AI-powered feature automates the extraction of dispositive provisions from complex legal documents, allowing advisors to create client-ready presentations in minutes.
Estate planning professionals have long faced challenges in manually reviewing trust documents, extracting client details, and structuring estate flowcharts in PowerPoint. Traditional processes are time-consuming and prone to human error. Luminary’s latest AI innovation streamlines this workflow, enabling advisors to focus on high-value strategic planning rather than administrative tasks.
Instead of sifting through complex legal documents to determine beneficiary distributions, Luminary’s new tool intelligently identifies recipients and pre-fills key client details to save advisors hours of work per client. The human-in-the-loop technology provides complete visibility throughout the process, with built-in citations that support AI-generated recommendations with direct evidence for advisor review.
OneDigital
OneDigital, the nation’s leading insurance brokerage, financial services, and HR consulting firm, today announced the full national launch of Impact Studio, a platform that consolidates the analytics, benchmarking, surveying and workforce data tools used by OneDigital consultants to deliver strategic workforce solutions to its 75,000+ business clients nationwide. By integrating data across benefits, retirement, and employee value data, Impact Studio enhances productivity, drives data-driven outcomes, and delivers a modern consulting experience that seamlessly connects sophisticated technology with human capital.
A recent McKinsey study highlights the growing demand for AI-powered solutions that drive smarter workforce decisions. Impact Studio equips OneDigital clients and consultants with AI-driven insights across benefits, retirement, and more—enhancing decision-making, simplifying processes, and delivering a comprehensive view that helps businesses plan for the future.
Built on a scalable cloud-based architecture, Impact Studio offers advanced integration capabilities, and seamless data exchange across employee benefits and retirement into a single, intuitive platform—allowing OneDigital consultants to deliver deeper insights and more strategic counsel to their clients. By consolidating multiple systems into one cohesive platform, Impact Studio enhances employers’ ability to control costs, maximize investments, and stay ahead of workforce trends.
OneVest
OneVest, a leader in wealth management technology, is proud to announce the launch of ‘Next Best Action’, the first feature in its AI-Enhanced Suite—bringing transformative, AI-powered intelligence to wealth management technology.
This innovative feature is designed to elevate client engagement and streamline advisory workflows. Leveraging advanced AI, OneVest’s ‘Next Best Action’ analyzes comprehensive client data to deliver intelligent, real-time recommendations—helping advisors create more timely and personalized interactions.
In today’s fast-evolving landscape, advisors face increasing demands to provide tailored insights while managing complex portfolios. The ‘Next Best Action’ addresses this challenge by offering timely and data-driven recommendations that help advisors anticipate client needs, optimize decision-making, and strengthen relationships. Whether it’s identifying opportunities to refine financial planning strategies, streamlining compliance updates, or enhancing client communication, this new feature transforms how advisors interact with their clients every day.
Orion
Orion, the premier provider of transformative wealthtech solutions for financial advisors and the enterprise firms that serve them, today announced the appointment of Michael Mandelos as Executive Vice President of Wealth Management Product. In his new role, Michael oversees comprehensive product portfolios, including Wealth Management platform technology and investment solutions, while managing partner relationships. Michael reports to Ron Pruitt, President of Orion Wealth Management.
He brings over 25 years of experience in investment product management and development to Orion. Michael began his career at JPMorgan where he was a Mutual Fund Product and Relationship Manager. Next, he held a key role at UBS, where he helped develop and manage the Unified Managed Account (UMA) and Separately Managed Account (SMA) solutions. He also spent seven years as the Head of National Accounts at a boutique asset management firm, collaborating with portfolio managers to bring high-quality income solutions to financial intermediaries across the wealth management industry. Most recently, Michael served as a strategic consultant, advising asset management firms on distribution strategies and sales models.
Michael holds FINRA Series 7 and 66 licenses and earned a Bachelor of Science in Finance from St. John’s University in New York City.
Pocketnest
Pocketnest, the pioneering woman-owned financial wellness platform, announces the launch of its revolutionary budget tool available in the Pocketnest platform.
Pocketnest’s budget tool leverages a revolutionary “buckets” approach instead of spreadsheets, guiding users to create personalized budgets covering expenses, debt, savings, and investments. It identifies surplus cash and recommends optimal allocations. In three minutes a week, users build better budgeting habits on their path to financial wellness.
High- and lower- net worth individuals alike no longer have to grapple with where to put their next dollar of income—toward retirement savings, college funds, or mortgage payments. Pocketnest empowers users to make informed financial decisions, identifying the most beneficial use of their income based on individual goals and financial situations, and Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards-driven best practices.
VRGL
VRGL, a leading Client Acquisition and Investment Proposal Management solution, is excited to announce the launch of its enhanced capabilities for Custom Investment Classification and Reporting. This powerful new suite of capabilities is designed to help financial advisory firms better streamline their exact investment proposal and reporting requirements, communicate their unique investment strategies and styles, align to existent client reporting, strengthen client relationships, and differentiate themselves in an increasingly competitive market.
Drawing on four years of collaboration with top advisory firms, VRGL has identified the key drivers that set high-performing practices apart: a distinct brand identity, a clearly defined investment philosophy, and a personalized communication approach that resonates with clients. Off-the-shelf, standardized reports often fail to reflect these differentiators, leaving firms unable to convey the full scope of their unique value. With VRGL’s new features, advisory firms can now fully showcase their brand identity, convey investment insights and strategies in unique and novel ways, and connect with clients on a deeper level.
By combining Custom Investment Classifications with a dynamic Report Designer, VRGL empowers firms to tell their investment story in a way that is both personalized and professional. These new features will initially be available to select enterprise clients and beta groups, allowing for a refined roll-out before broader availability. By integrating Custom Investment Classifications with the Report Designer, VRGL enables a seamless and cohesive client experience, reducing operational inefficiencies and enhancing brand consistency. This powerful combination automates the classification of securities and streamlines the report generation process, freeing firms to focus more on building relationships and less on manual data entry. The result is a more cohesive client experience, where each report is a clear reflection of the firm’s values and investment approach.
