By DWN Staff
Moving a financial advisors business from one firm to another sounds straightforward. In reality, it can involve hundreds of client accounts, stacks of paperwork and weeks of manual work. That complexity has made advisor transitions one of wealth managements biggest operational headaches.
RFG Advisory believes artificial intelligence can change that. The independent registered investment advisor platform, which oversees more than $8 billion in assets under advisement and supports more than 100 advisors, has deployed Feathery’s AI operational and decisioning platform to modernize one of the industry’s most labor-intensive processes.
Before the rollout, advisor transitions depended on spreadsheets, repetitive data entry and manual document preparation across multiple custodians and systems. Every missing field or formatting error could slow onboarding and delay advisors from serving clients.
Feathery replaces much of that manual work with automated workflows that validate data. Workflows also determine which forms are required, prefill documents and generate DocuSign envelopes – ready for review and signature.
The results were immediate. RFG more than doubled form generation speeds for full repapering engagements while expanding the number of accounts that can be prepared and sent on day one, according to an announcement from Feathery on Tuesday.
Feathery also reported improved data consistency, fewer missing fields and fewer manual errors.
The project reflects a larger shift taking place across wealth management. As mergers, acquisitions and advisor recruiting accelerate, firms are searching for ways to automate operational work without sacrificing personal service.
“Transitions used to be one of the most manual and unpredictable parts of our business,” said Ross Thompson, Manager of Advisor Transitions at RFG Advisory. “Being able to send accounts out quickly has completely changed how we approach transitions.”
“Advisor transitions are a defining moment for both advisors and their clients,” said Chris Mills, Head of Wealth Solutions at Feathery. “RFG’s results show how firms can make those transitions faster and more predictable while preserving the high-touch experience advisors expect.”
