IFA Talk

AI continues to dominate conversations across the advice profession and it remains one of the most popular topics with readers of IFA Magazine. But beyond the hype, what does AI actually mean for financial advisers in practice? Is it friend or foe?

In the latest episode of the IFA Talk podcast, hosts Sue Whitbread and Matt Williams explore how AI is beginning to reshape the advice process. Joining them is Mark Whitcroft, CEO and co-founder of PlannerPal, an AI-powered workflow tool designed for financial advisers and wealth managers.

What AI means for advisers

PlannerPal helps firms automate and streamline time consuming processes such as meeting notes, document reviews and CRM updates, working alongside the systems advisers already use. In this conversation, Mark shares what he is seeing as more advice firms start integrating AI into their businesses.

Together they discuss how AI is changing advisers’ day to day work, the common mistakes firms make when adopting new technology, and how AI could improve outcomes for clients.

Protecting the human side of advice

They also address the big question many advisers are asking, whether AI could threaten the human side of advice. As the discussion highlights, the real opportunity may lie in using technology to reduce admin and give advisers more time to focus on their clients.

 

Now live: The latest Mortgage & Property Investment special edition of IFA Talk explores the evolving Near Prime mortgage market and the ways lenders and technology are supporting borrowers with adverse credit.

In this episode, hosts Meg Bratley and Jenny Hunter are joined by Richard Harrison, Head of Mortgages at Atom Bank. Richard shares his insights into the rising activity in the Near Prime segment, the challenges advisers face when working with these clients, and practical approaches lenders are taking to help borrowers rebuild their credit and gradually regain Prime status. 

Key discussion points include:

• The factors driving growth in the Near Prime mortgage market

• How technology is improving the experience for advisers and borrowers in the adverse credit space

• Common challenges advisers encounter when supporting Near Prime clients

• Lender strategies to help borrowers rebuild credit and progress towards Prime status

• Practical guidance for advisers on collaborating with lenders in this dynamic market

This episode provides valuable insight for brokers and mortgage professionals navigating the Near Prime segment, offering guidance on trends, technology, and lender approaches that can help advisers support clients with more complex credit profiles.

Be sure to check out this episode and all other episodes of IFA Talk on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon, and visit the Mortgage & Property tab on the IFA Magazine website for the latest news and insights.

Markets have been shaken again with the continuing war in the Gulf adding fresh uncertainty for advisers and clients alike. With the busy end of the tax year period already underway, many advisers will also be fielding anxious calls from clients asking what they should be doing with their portfolios.

Recording this episode of IFA Talk on March 9^th, Sue and Matt speak with Trevor Greetham, Head of Multi Asset at Royal London Asset Management, about how advisers should approach long-term investment strategies during periods of heightened market volatility, such as we’re seeing right now.

The conversation explores the importance of diversification at a time when traditional asset relationships have been tested, the potential role of alternatives such as property and commodities, and the growing risk of “spikeflation” driven by energy markets and geopolitics.

Trevor also explains how his Investment Clock framework can help advisers interpret the economic cycle and think about active asset allocation in a more uncertain environment.

In this month’s special Tax-Efficient Investment edition of IFA Talk, in partnership with Octopus Investments, were focusing on the last-minute changes to the proposed unquoted Business Relief allowance.

Joining us to do this is Toyin Oyeneyin, Tax Product Specialist at Octopus Investments. This will be Toyin’s third time on the podcast, having joined us most recently alongside her colleague Tim Dickens for our January episode, which was recorded shortly after the Budget in December.

That episode was recorded just days before the government’s change to the proposed unquoted Business Relief allowance, increasing it from £1 million to £2.5 million.

In today’s episode, we unpack that change, along with the upcoming reduction of IHT relief on AIM shares, which will decrease to 50% from next month. Toyin also explains how advisers should navigate the complex estate planning landscape, and what these changes mean from an intergenerational perspective.

In this week’s episode of IFA Talk, IFA Magazine’s weekly podcast, we’re diving into retirement planning with a difference, looking at both the psychology of it and the financial aspects.

Supporting clients with retirement planning is a key area of every financial adviser’s business, but the best advisers go a step further. Joining us to explore this topic is James Woodfall, a former financial adviser who has done some interesting work on retirement psychology.

Together, we discuss James’ recent research into retirement psychology, what advisers are doing to help their clients transition to retirement successfully, and what advisers should consider doing more of, to help their clients thrive in their retirement.

 

In this week’s episode of IFA Talk, IFA Magazine’s weekly podcast, we focus on data, talking about how advisers can turn raw client information into really personalised financial planning.

Joining us to do so is by Rowan Whittington, Chief Product Officer at Dynamic Planner. Rowan sits on the Senior Leadership Team and leads on new and emerging initiatives across the business. She’s got a particular focus on Tram, their white-labelled mobile app designed to support digital advice journeys.

Together, we’ll discuss what ‘good data’ really looks like inside a modern advice business, and how client behaviour is changing with the real-time digital access they have now.

Along with that, we’ll also dive into the ever-present topic of AI, asking what the next five years of AI and automation might mean for data-led advice.

 

 

Now live: This month’s New Insurance & Protection special edition of IFA Talk explores a key question for advisers: in protection terms, is whole of life the only solution for long-term inheritance tax planning?

Hosts Meg Bratley and Sue Whitbread are joined by Ken Maxwell, Director at JLHO, as the company marks its 65th anniversary, to reflect on how protection advice has evolved over the decades, how today’s market compares to previous cycles, and what advisers should be focusing on when structuring high-value cover.

What this episode covers

The discussion explores whether whole of life remains the default solution for long-term IHT planning, how advisers can combine term and whole of life policies to manage premiums effectively, and why insurer capacity and contract flexibility remain important considerations in today’s market.

Drawing on decades of experience, Ken shares practical insights into building robust, client-focused protection strategies designed to stand the test of time.

 

In this week’s episode,  Matt and Sue are looking into one of the most consistent challenges faced by advice firms: technology complexity.

They are joined by John Milliken, CEO of Defaqto, to talk about how advice businesses can move from integrating multiple tech platforms to a more unified operating model. Advisers regularly face the frustration of juggling many different software platforms that don’t talk to each other, creating inefficiencies and compliance risks too.

In this episode, Matt, Sue, and John discuss:

• Integration vs. unification: What this shift means for advisers and why it matters.
• Adviser pain points: Where current tech stacks fall short and how firms are feeling about being weighed down by complexity.
• Day-to-day changes: How a unified operating model can simplify workflows, strengthen compliance, and give advisers more confidence.
• Managing change: How firms can adopt new technology at a pace that works for their business.
• Key takeaways: John’s top insights for advisers navigating technology challenges.

Listen now to hear how things are changing in the adviser tech world that look set to transform the efficiency and effectiveness of many advice businesses in future.

 

In this episode of IFA Talk, we’re talking all things paraplanning and why the role continues to grow in importance across the advice profession.

Jenny and Matt are joined by Steve Nelson, Insight Director at the lang cat, to chat through the latest State of the Advice Nation research. This is the third year paraplanners have had a focused pathway in the study, which means we’re finally starting to see some clear themes emerge around career paths, day to day realities and where firms are getting it right, or not.

During the conversation, we look at paraplanning as a career in its own right, how visible and understood the role really is, and what the research tells us about the challenges paraplanners still face behind the scenes. From workload pressures to systems and support, it’s an honest discussion grounded in real data and real experience.

As ever, Steve does a brilliant job of bringing the numbers to life and connecting the findings to what’s actually happening in advice firms across the UK.

Now live: The latest Mortgage & Property Investment special edition of IFA Talk looks ahead to 2026 and beyond, exploring how shifting household behaviour, retirement sequencing, and property wealth are shaping modern financial planning.

In this episode, hosts Meg and Jenny are joined by Phillip Wickenden, founder and CEO of Ad Lucem. Phil shares his insights on the changing landscape of adviser-client conversations, including the growing importance of retirement sequencing, the evolving role of property wealth, and why later-life lending and “home-in-the-plan” discussions are becoming increasingly central to financial planning.

Key discussion points also include:

• Household behavioural shifts heading into 2026 and what they mean for advisers

• How inheritance tax changes are affecting retirement sequencing and client decision-making

• Practical challenges advisers are facing more often, including managing client intent and tax implications

• The role of property wealth and later-life lending in modern, client-centred conversations

• How intergenerational advice creates both business opportunities and long-term client retention

This episode provides valuable insight for advisers looking to navigate the changing financial planning landscape, offering practical guidance and highlighting the opportunities for advisers to add value for clients in the year ahead.

Be sure to check out the episode and all other episodes of IFA Talk on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon!