Happy Thursday,

AI isn’t slowing down—and neither should we. This newsletter is your shortcut to practical ideas and smarter strategies to grow, lead, and adapt as tech reshapes our industry.

To take it one step further, I’ve launched a new YouTube series. Each month, I’m sharing quick, tactical videos showing how advisors can use tools like ChatGPT to save time, think better, and scale more efficiently—starting with the work you're already doing.

Watch my latest episode here

The AI Edge

Helping advisors scale from 1 person to many people.

AI Application:

Bland

Overview:

Bland AI is a voice AI platform that can conduct actual phone conversations with your clients or prospects - not just play recordings, but have real back-and-forth dialogue. Think of it as hiring a capable assistant who never gets tired, never forgets to ask the right questions, and can handle dozens of calls simultaneously. The platform lets you create custom voice agents by writing conversational prompts, similar to how you'd brief a new team member, then deploy them to make calls at scale. The setup process is surprisingly straightforward, and the conversations feel remarkably human.

How to apply Bland to the business today:

• Meeting confirmations that gather pre-meeting intelligence - have the AI ask what's top of mind, biggest concerns, or specific topics they want to cover

• Client check-ins for large books of business - systematic outreach to see how clients are doing and flag any immediate concerns for follow-up

• Appointment scheduling for prospects who've expressed interest but haven't booked - persistent but professional follow-up that converts leads

• Post-meeting surveys to capture feedback while it's fresh - what resonated, what questions remain, satisfaction scoring

• Data gathering for annual reviews - collecting updated employment status, beneficiary information, or goal changes before meetings

Advanced:

• Outbound prospecting campaigns with purchased lead lists - qualifying prospects and booking discovery meetings at scale

• Voice cloning your own voice for personalized client communications that maintain your brand and relationship warmth

• Complex pathway workflows that branch based on client responses - different scripts for retirees vs. accumulators vs. business owners

• Integration with CRM systems to automatically log call outcomes and update client records with gathered intelligence

• Compliance-focused scripts for sensitive situations like account transfers or beneficiary updates that ensure proper documentation

What could this application mean for the future of our business?

We're looking at the democratization of scale that was previously only available to large firms with dedicated call centers. A solo advisor could theoretically manage systematic client communication for thousands of relationships. The competitive implications are significant - firms that embrace this technology will be able to provide more frequent, meaningful touchpoints without proportionally increasing overhead. Client expectations around responsiveness and proactive communication will likely rise as this becomes more common. The quality bar is already surprisingly high, and as the technology improves, distinguishing between AI and human interactions will become increasingly difficult. This isn't just about efficiency; it's about fundamentally changing what level of service becomes the baseline expectation in our industry.

See Bland in action:

Watch a live, unscripted phone call between me and an AI assistant that I built in under two minutes. The AI doesn't just confirm tomorrow's meeting - it asks what's top of mind, gathers intelligence about concerns, and even handles the curveball of "this is my first time with a financial advisor." The natural flow of conversation and thoughtful follow-up questions will make you rethink what's possible with client communication at scale.

-Matt