Tim Sargisson: Robo-advice's significant economic challenges

Advisers must still raise their game

clock • 3 min read

The attractions of robo-advice should be obvious to most financial services providers but what is considerably less clear, writes Tim Sargisson, is how to deal with the challenge of building scale

Stifle a collective yawn, if you can, but ‘the robots are coming' is news again. Channel 4 has a new series, The Rise of the Robots, which will look at where intelligent robots interact with us as equals. Meanwhile, one national newspaper recently published an article that featured a piece of research by Oxford University highlighting those jobs most at risk of automation. Financial advisers are apparently 58% at risk - though spare a thought for the humble accountant, where there is a 94% chance of being replaced by a new breed of automated auditing and associated number-crunching proce...

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 Your profession

Advised clients want more personal investment communication

Advised clients want more personal investment communication

Four in ten say comms focused more on product than goals

Jenna Brown
clock 12 November 2026 • 3 min read
How economic abuse manifests itself in pensions, mortgages and protection

How economic abuse manifests itself in pensions, mortgages and protection

Second in a three part series

Shelley Read
clock 11 November 2026 • 5 min read
Celtic FP founder launches online admin platform for advisers

Celtic FP founder launches online admin platform for advisers

‘Developed by people who understand the industry’

Jenna Brown
clock 10 November 2026 • 2 min read