Why you can’t afford to ignore AI right now

The speed of change can feel overwhelming. You might think you’re lagging when every headline mentions artificial intelligence (AI). The truth is you’re not behind yet. But if you ignore what’s happening now, you might lose later. For financial advisory professionals in South Africa – advisers, planners and short-term brokers – AI isn’t just for tech giants or big companies. AI is already here, quietly making its presence known. The good news? You still have time to learn how it fits into your work.

What AI means for your business

AI is simply a tool. Like any tool, it works well or poorly depending on how you use it. It won’t replace what makes you excellent – your judgement, empathy, experience and client relationships. But it is a helpful assistant that’s changing how we work and serve clients.

In your financial advice business, AI can:

• Write better, faster reports and emails
• Create summaries of lengthy documents
• Draft content for social media and your website
• Speed up admin tasks and compliance checks
• Help with data analysis and client reviews
• Provide training support for your team.

This is just the start. AI doesn’t need rest, doesn’t forget things, and can learn your style and processes. Used properly, it frees you to focus on valuable client work.

The danger of doing nothing

You might want to wait and see what others do first. You might hope it passes or that someone will create a perfect ‘AI for advisers’ tool you can simply switch on.

The risk? While you stand still, others move forward. Not just younger, tech-savvy professionals – thoughtful advisers of all ages are learning to use AI for smarter, more efficient businesses. They’re not just saving time; they’re gaining an advantage.

Clients will notice who provides faster, clearer, more personal service. They’ll expect more for less. That’s when falling behind becomes losing ground.

You’re still early

AI remains new to many in our industry. Feeling unsure is completely normal. It’s like when email or the internet first appeared – confusing at first, then suddenly essential.

Now is the time to explore and ask questions. You don’t need to master everything at once. Spending a few hours weekly learning tools like ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot or AI features in software you already use will pay off greatly.

How to begin

Here are simple steps to start your AI journey:

• Get curious – Explore what AI tools exist. Try asking ChatGPT to help draft a client email or summarise an article.
• Start small – Don’t change everything at once. Begin with one task – like writing weekly updates, creating internal guides, or formatting proposals – and test how AI helps.
• Join conversations – Many communities discuss AI in financial services. Attend a webinar or talk to colleagues who are trying it out.
• Stay grounded – AI is powerful but needs your oversight. Always check its work using your professional judgement.
• Include your team – Your staff can benefit from AI too. Let them explore and share what they discover.

Don’t wait for the perfect solution

There will never be a perfect AI tool. The goal isn’t perfection; it’s progress. If you wait for a polished solution made just for South African advisers, you’ll wait too long. Meanwhile, others will have learnt and built better businesses with what’s already available.

Think of AI as a new team member. At first, they’ll need guidance. You’ll need to work out how they fit into your daily tasks. Once you do, they’ll take much off your plate.

Take the first step

We no longer need to become a tech expert or fundi. But we must stay relevant. We must help clients in smarter ways. And we must make our business stronger and future-fit. You’re not behind yet. But if you want to keep up, or better yet, lead, you need to start moving. Not with a mad dash. Just one step, then another. That’s how you succeed in this race. 

Stay curious.