Industry news and views from Panacea and our partners.
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5 Themes Shaping This Week’s Trade Press Headlines
Every week, the specialist financial press highlights the issues shaping adviser businesses. Looking across Money Marketing, FT Adviser, Professional Adviser and Citywire, these are the five themes that have consistently dominated discussion over the past seven days. From regulation and AI to business strategy and investment trends, here’s what’s been driving the conversation, and why it matters for advisers.
FCA Pressure vs the Clock: Why UK Advisers Are Facing an Efficiency Crisis
For many firms, the biggest barrier to growth is no longer attracting new clients, it’s finding the capacity to service them without increasing costs or placing additional pressure on advisers and support staff.
Beyond the Hype: The Four Pillars of AI Assistance for Financial Advisers
Artificial intelligence has quickly become one of the biggest talking points in financial services. But once you look beyond the headlines, many advisers are left asking the same question: “What would I actually use it for?” If your only experience of AI has been asking it to write the occasional email, you’re only scratching the surface.
Getting Better Results from AI: The RTCC Framework
Artificial intelligence is only as good as the instructions you give it. If you’ve ever asked AI a question and received an answer that felt generic, vague or simply not quite right, don’t be too quick to blame the technology.
The Golden Rule of AI for Financial Advisers: Protect Your Client Data
Artificial intelligence has the potential to transform the way advice firms work, helping to reduce administration, improve efficiency and free up more time for clients. But before embracing AI, there is one principle that should never be overlooked
Panacea Conversations - Beyond the Questionnaire: Rethinking Attitude to Risk
Attitude to Risk is one of the foundations of good financial planning, yet it’s often reduced to a questionnaire and a risk score. In the latest episode of Panacea Conversations, compliance expert Tony Catt explains why the real value lies in the conversations behind the questionnaire. We explore adviser bias, client psychology, capacity for loss, vulnerability, and why risk shouldn’t be viewed solely through an investment lens. If you want to strengthen your Attitude to Risk process, this is a conversation worth hearing.
Panacea Conversations - Beyond the Questionnaire: Rethinking Attitude to Risk
In this episode of Panacea Conversations, we explore one of the most fundamental, and often misunderstood, aspects of the advice process: Attitude to Risk.
One Year On: The “Finfluencer
Twelve months ago, Panacea explored the growing influence of “finfluencers" - social media personalities creating content around money, investing, budgeting, and financial decision-making.
Could Social Media (and AI) Help Bring the Next Generation Into Financial Advice?
For years, the financial advice profession has faced a growing challenge: how do we attract younger talent into an industry built on trust, technical expertise, and long-term relationships? It is a challenge the profession can no longer afford to ignore.
Panacea Conversations - Serving Clients from the First Moment
In our first podcast of 2026, we explore one of the biggest shifts facing financial advisers today: as technical expertise becomes expected and AI reshapes client expectations, what truly sets great advisers apart?
Opening the time capsule: what financial services looked like in 1999
A reflection on the pre-dot-com crash financial landscape, capturing a 1999, high-market, pre-compliance era through a nostalgic lens. On 31 December 1999, I bought every newspaper I could find.
Can the UK fix its home-buying process and what it means for advisers
In the previous article, we looked at how Scotland and several European markets structure the home-buying process differently, particularly by introducing information and legal certainty much earlier.
What the UK can learn from Scotland and Europe’s home-buying systems
In the first part of this series, we explored why the home-buying process in England and Wales remains slow and fragile, despite a modern and efficient mortgage market sitting alongside it.
April 1st - wisdom comes from experience, experience comes from poor past judgement
Many advisers (who are still around: will recall the regulatory failure of the banks during the 2008 financial crisis and the action the UK government took in deciding to restructure financial regulation and abolish the FSA.
Give to Gain: How Financial Advice Can Close Its Gender Gap
In the UK today, fewer than one in five regulated financial advisers are women. Depending on the dataset, that figure sits around the 18–20% mark. Five years ago, it was not materially different. Progress has been made, but it has been incremental rather than transformative.
From financial planning term to rap lyrics: the mainstreaming of money language
I was sitting in a nail salon at the weekend when a UK rap track came on over the speaker - “Sprinter" by Central Cee and Dave (which I had to Shazam). Amid the rhythm and storytelling, one line immediately stood out:
Broken crayons can still colour
Most of us have that one message of hope and inspiration that somehow manages to help bring some perspective and optimism to a situation. I hope this is one that you can take from me.
Cartoon...or Credible? The AI Avatar Question
A new LinkedIn trend is gaining traction: professionals using AI tools to generate caricature style images of themselves, often paired with visual cues about their role. Financial advisers appear as animated planners juggling charts, calculators, or coffee cups. The tone is playful, self aware, and intentionally informal.
How to manage HR & get the best people for the job
Managing people is one of the most complex responsibilities for any advice firm – and one of the most important. From recruiting the right talent and understanding legal obligations, through to performance management, flexible working and handling difficult conversations, getting HR right underpins a sustainable, compliant business.
Shine a Light on Adviser Pain Points
We want adviser experience clearly heard by regulators, FOS and the wider industry in 2026. This anonymous 3–4 minute survey helps highlight pressure points and shape how we advocate and prioritise support.
To MPS or Not MPS: choosing the right tool rather than the default
As advice firms look ahead to 2026, many are taking stock of the investment decisions they’ve made over recent years, particularly the role Model Portfolio Services (MPS) now play within their advice models. With Consumer Duty bedding in, FCA scrutiny increasing and client expectations continuing to evolve, advisers are reassessing not just whether MPS belongs in their proposition, but how and where it should be used.
HR Essentials for Small - Medium Adviser Firms
A practical HR guide created specifically for UK financial adviser firms. Managing people alongside regulation, growth and client delivery isn’t easy - especially without dedicated HR support. This guide focuses on the real HR issues adviser firms face, with clear, practical guidance you can actually use.
AI Shows Exactly Where Your Messaging Falls Flat. Here's How to Fix It
Did you know that 74% of consumers are likely to switch brands if they find the purchasing process too confusing? In today's fast-paced digital world, clear and effective communication is more crucial than ever.
Should Paraplanners Be Regulated?
IFA Magazine recently invited our CEO and Founder, Derek Bradley, to join their podcast and discuss the results of Panacea’s latest paraplanner survey. The episode dives into the profession’s diverging views on FCA recognition, regulatory oversight, and accountability, particularly the sharp contrast between in-house and outsourced paraplanners.
Beyond Cost: Rethinking the Strategic Value of Business Support
Outsourced paraplanning. Admin support. Ops hires. Tech platforms...
AI in Advice: A Practical Guide for Financial Advisers
Download Panacea's free guide to using AI in financial advice - with practical tips, FCA-aligned compliance guidance, and real-world examples.
Is Adviser Sentiment Turning a Corner?
UK IA Sector Net Flows: February – July 2025 Advisers may be edging back towards confidence, with fresh flows showing a mix of caution and renewed appetite for risk.
AI for Client Service: Personalisation Without the Heavy Lifting
Strong client relationships are built on timely, tailored communication. But maintaining that level of personalisation across every interaction can be resource-heavy. In the sixth article of our 'AI for Advisers' series, we show how advisers can use AI to support everyday client touch points, without losing the human touch.
Should Paraplanners Be More Formally Recognised by the FCA?
We recently ran an industry survey asking a simple but important question: Should paraplanners be more formally recognised by the FCA? The findings reveal some striking differences in how paraplanners, advisers, compliance professionals, and business owners view the role of paraplanners when it comes to FCA recognition, regulatory oversight, and qualifications.