Last week marked a big step forward for adviser tech education in the UK, with the launch of AdviserSoftware.com’s new monthly Adviser Tech & AI Guide, a free, regular resource designed to make tech decisions simpler and more strategic for advisory firms.

Alongside that, we also published a detailed look at the Benchmark platform, showcasing how integrated infrastructure can support client engagement, investment management, and compliance in a single ecosystem.

Here’s what you might have missed:

A new Adviser Tech & AI Guide — built to help you choose smarter

With thousands of advisers now visiting AdviserSoftware.com each quarter, it’s clear there’s growing demand for reliable, independent insight on adviser tech. But staying on top of new developments, especially in AI and integration, is becoming harder by the week.

That’s why we’ve launched our new monthly Adviser Tech & AI Guide, delivering:

  • A practical, independent overview of the advice tech marketplace
  • Fresh analysis of 4–6 key providers every month
  • Integrated insight across CRM, planning, portals, sourcing, onboarding, AI tools and more
  • Free access, delivered directly to advisers’ inboxes

This isn’t just a list of vendors. It’s a curated, evolving guide, designed to save you time and give your firm the clarity it needs to make confident tech decisions under Consumer Duty. We also interrogate systems hands-on, with our analyst team bringing real-world experience from adviser firms themselves.

As we said in the press release:

“Time is an adviser’s most valuable resource, and the right technology can be a huge benefit enabling them to spend more time with clients. We are here to help make informed decisions and leverage technology to its fullest potential.”

Widespread media support for the launch

The new guide was also recognised widely across the adviser press, including:

This level of support highlights both the need for and value of structured guidance for tech decision-making in financial advice, especially with Consumer Duty now fully embedded in firms’ strategic thinking.

Benchmark – practice management, client portals, and a deeper integration model

Also featured last week is a comprehensive review of the Benchmark platform, covering both its practice management systems and the Fusion Wealth client-facing experience. Full analysis can be viewed here.

Key strengths we highlighted include:

  • End-to-end data flow between CRM, onboarding, client portal and investment management
  • Proprietary compliance tools, secure messaging, suitability reporting, and digital reviews
  • A clear roadmap of improvements including client self-service and app enhancements
  • White-labelling for larger firms via Fusion Wealth

The depth of in-house integration may limit flexibility for some firms needing more open architecture, but for those seeking a vertically integrated ecosystem, Benchmark offers a serious proposition.

From the ProtectionGuru.co.uk Team

If there’s one theme that runs through the protection content last week, it’s that confidence and communication are still two of the most valuable tools an adviser can have. Whether you’re helping a client understand an Income Protection indexation clause or opening a mental health conversation at exactly the right time, it’s clear that great advice still starts with a conversation. Last week’s articles will help you start, and structure, better ones.

Using LinkedIn to build real engagement – Part Two

How to use LinkedIn webinars and workshops to boost protection marketing results – Part Two

Melanie Goodman returned with Part Two of her practical guide to running webinars and workshops via LinkedIn. If you missed Part One last week, it’s well worth revisiting, especially the insight around positioning yourself as an educator rather than a salesperson: How to use LinkedIn webinars and workshops to boost protection marketing results – Part One

The second instalment focuses on leveraging employee networks, LinkedIn groups and post-event content to drive maximum reach. The best bits? Practical tips like:

  • Sending three reminders (a week before, a day before and an hour before)
  • Using polls and Q&A to hold attention
  • Sharing takeaways and recordings promptly after the event
  • Repurposing content into social posts and nurture campaigns

This is modern marketing in action, educational, consistent, and (crucially) repeatable. If you’re still relying on cold calling to reach clients, this article might just convince you to fire up the webcam instead.

The real reason clients pay a broker fee, and why it matters for protection

Gary Waters article, the real reason clients happily pay a broker fee, reminds us that when clients pay a broker fee, they’re not just buying a mortgage, they’re buying you. And that includes your protection advice. But as he rightly points out, too many advisers still shrink away from protection conversations. The result? Missed opportunities and underinsured clients.

His call to action is simple:

  • Deepen your product knowledge (ask BDMs to pitch to you)
  • Invest in sales coaching (because confidence is visible)

If you’ve ever heard a colleague say “they didn’t want the protection” after a client ghosted their second meeting, this article offers a valuable reality check.

Making light work of Income Protection comparisons

The Income Protection market remains one of the hardest to navigate under Consumer Duty, with indexation, guarantees and added value features all contributing to the final outcome. Jason Coleman’s article making light work of Income Protection comparisons, is a timely reminder that tools like Protection Guru Pro are specifically designed to solve this challenge.

Jason walks through how advisers can use the platform to compare quality and price simultaneously, including:

  • New free training webinars
  • Features like maximum income guarantees
  • Quick comparisons between legacy and new products

If you’ve not yet registered for a session, you can do so here – it’s a good time to explore how much time you can save while improving client outcomes.

Understanding Sarcoma – beyond the common cancers

In support of Sarcoma Awareness Month, this clinical insight does a brilliant job explaining what sarcomas are, how they’re treated, and how they’re covered under Critical Illness definitions – Exploring Sarcoma – Diagnosis, Treatment and Critical Illness coverage.

It’s a strong example of how protection policies cover far more than just breast and prostate cancer, something that may be especially important to mention in conversations with younger clients or those with less conventional medical histories.

Look out for Part Two next week, which will cover GIST (Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumour), a subtype that can have different implications under Critical Illness definitions.

How talking can save lives – understanding the work of Samaritans

Amanda Newman Smith’s latest contribution, how talking can save lives: understanding the work of Samaritans,  explores how the Samaritans STEP programme is helping businesses (including advisers) have better conversations with vulnerable people. As mental health concerns continue to rise, this training could be invaluable in helping advisers meet both regulatory and moral responsibilities.

Zoe Mears’ personal story of loss adds a powerful human dimension. Her reflections on grief, counselling, and long-term impact are a reminder that what clients show on the surface isn’t always the full picture.

Avoiding over-insurance in Income Protection

Jason Coleman explores a rarely discussed but increasingly relevant Income Protection issue, how to safeguard your clients against income protection over-insurance. What happens when indexation pushes a client’s cover above their actual income?

The Maximum Benefit Guarantee from Zurich and Guardian provides a safety net in these cases, allowing clients to still receive their full cover if earnings have dropped by up to 10%. It’s a useful reminder that regular reviews aren’t just a Consumer Duty checkbox, they’re essential to delivering real value.

Alcohol Awareness Week – a changing relationship

This public health piece, Alcohol Awareness Week – Rethinking our relationship with alcohol, takes a broader look at drinking trends, especially among Gen Z, and what advisers need to know when underwriting or advising clients with alcohol-related disclosures. It also offers practical reflections on how to handle sensitive conversations and where to signpost clients for support.

A win for UK InsurTech – Protection Guru Pro recognised again

We were proud to see Protection Guru Pro (PGP) awarded InsurTech of the Year at the European Fintech Awards last week, for the second time in three years. The judges cited our impact on adviser earnings and client outcomes, with the latest data showing an average increase of nearly £300 per Income Protection case for those using PGP to match client needs to the best product.

FTAdviser, Simoney Kyriakou; British insurance tech represents with win for Protection Guru Pro.

More importantly, we’re not standing still. Throughout the second half of the year, expect new features designed to make Consumer Duty even easier to deliver.

Have a great week everyone!