Advice rewired: Do robo-advisers dream of actual profits?

Lost more than £100m

Tom Ellis
clock • 12 min read

After Investec recently took the decision to withdraw its robo-adviser Invest & Click from the market after the venture lost £32m, Professional Adviser's news editor Tom Ellis assesses how profitably the so-called 'robo-advice' sector as a whole is shaping up… 

Philip K. Dick's poignant 1968 sci-fi classic Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? was famously the inspiration for the Blade Runner films. If he was writing today, however, might Dick instead be wondering if robo-advisers dream of ever turning a profit? A substantial rummage through the accounts of those inhabiting the UK robo-adviser space has revealed it is clearly a market still very much in its infancy - although that excuse may wear thin for investors and backers before long. While turnover and profit/loss figures are not available for all of the market's robo firms, the accounts that...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Adviser for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
  • Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
  • Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
  • Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
  • Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes

Join

 

Already a Professional Adviser member?

Login

More on Technology

Adventures in AI: Separating hype from reality

Adventures in AI: Separating hype from reality

Taking the ‘eh?’ out of AI

Mike Morrow
clock 29 October 2025 • 4 min read
Iress and Moneyinfo link up in 'first of its kind' partnership

Iress and Moneyinfo link up in 'first of its kind' partnership

Exclusive: Tech firms aim to connect the full advice journey

Isabel Baxter
clock 29 October 2025 • 6 min read
PA Asks: Advice profession says 'no thank you' to introducing apps

PA Asks: Advice profession says 'no thank you' to introducing apps

Advice business owners reveal if they have considered introducing an app

Isabel Baxter
clock 28 October 2025 • 2 min read