Investment - Articles - Comment on the FCA review of automated investment services

 Since pension freedoms, and the subsequent surge in defined benefit pension transfers, access to high quality financial advice is more important than ever. The Work and Pensions Committee recently called for a comparison of face-to-face with robo advice to better understand how automated investment and advice services to help fill the general advice gap.

 The FCA’s review into automated advice has noted some problems with these models, for instance how they can identify vulnerable customers. As these growing pains are worked through we are likely to see more hybrid models which combine the strengths of face-to-face advice with those of an automated process.

 The journey to 24/7 financial advice provided by robots has not been as swift as anticipated and this review offers an opportunity for reflection on how technology best fits within the financial advice industry. Findings from the regulator’s further investigations will be hotly anticipated.