- AI platforms like Glean address the "knowledge problem" in financial advisory firms by unifying fragmented and dispersed data, making it easily accessible and actionable, which reduces time spent on administrative tasks and enables advisors to focus more on client relationships and strategic work.
- Glean empowers financial advisors to systematically segment and prioritize their client base, uncovering growth opportunities among existing clients—especially those with untapped potential—so firms can shift from simply chasing new leads to deepening valuable relationships through data-driven insights.
- The platform's unified, permissions-aware, and easily integrated solution is suitable for both large banks with legacy systems and independent RIAs seeking flexible, scalable technology, providing a low-friction path to greater productivity, client satisfaction, and sustained competitive advantage.
Financial advisory firms are at a crossroads. Pressed by increasing operational complexity, a deluge of fragmented data, and rising client expectations, advisors are finding it harder than ever to provide differentiated service at scale. While technology has long promised increased efficiency, the reality for most firms is a patchwork of platforms, information silos, and repetitive manual work that limits both growth and client satisfaction.
However, this landscape is rapidly changing. AI-driven platforms, and especially solutions like Glean, are emerging as game-changers for financial practices—helping advisors unlock the full potential of their expertise, technology stacks, and client relationships.
Understanding the knowledge problem
Nearly every financial advisory practice—whether part of a large integrated bank or an agile independent RIA—faces the “knowledge problem” where workers struggle to find relevant data or information between disparate systems and departments. Critical client and product data live in disparate, non-standardized systems: CRM tools, file shares, performance databases, compliance folders, and more. Information is scattered instead of a single, unified source of truth.
Advisors waste countless hours in “swivel-chair” workflows, toggling between applications, hunting for files, or re-keying information just to prepare for a client call. The numbers are stark—up to 60% of an advisor’s workweek is spent on repetitive administrative and operational tasks, time that could be spent providing strategic advice and deepening client relationships.
Even powerful investments in tools like Salesforce often go underutilized, with adoption rates as low as 25-30%, simply because incomplete and fragmented data makes these platforms far less valuable than they could be.
AI as a game changer
AI—when designed for real, everyday workflows—breaks this cycle. Platforms like Glean unify and organize the messy, complex, and incomplete data landscape of financial advisory firms. By ingesting data from multiple systems and making it both searchable and actionable, Glean becomes the backbone for everything advisors do: from compliance tracking to meeting preparation, from opportunity identification to client segmentation.
With a foundation of unified, accessible data, AI can automate low-value administrative work. Think of tasks like compiling client histories, populating forms, and preparing for compliance audits—all handled or dramatically accelerated by Glean’s intelligent platform.
As a result, operational overhead plummets, giving advisors back valuable hours to focus on what truly matters: managing relationships and growing their business.
Strategic client segmentation and growth
Perhaps the most compelling benefit for advisory practices is the ability to systemically segment and prioritize clients. Many firms naturally focus on “top” clients, but lack the visibility or tools to analyze the bottom 80%—where “held-away” assets and growth opportunities abound.
By bridging the knowledge gap, Glean allows advisors to quickly pinpoint which clients have untapped potential, target outreach efforts accordingly, and personalize the advisory experience.
This represents a strategic pivot from chasing new leads toward developing deeper, high-value relationships with existing clients. It enables savvy advisors to prioritize outreach, deliver proactive service, and capture a greater share of their clients’ financial portfolios—all powered by seamless access to actionable data.
A unified solution for both banks and RIAs
The nature of technology headaches varies across the industry. Large banks contend with thick layers of legacy systems, high administrative overhead, and the pressure to cross-sell proprietary products. Meanwhile, independent RIAs value flexibility but often struggle to evaluate, integrate, and scale new tech affordably.
In both cases, Glean’s unified platform—already permissions-aware, packed with integrations, and easy to implement—provides an efficient, low-friction path to boosting productivity and client service.
Looking forward
In a world where every hour and every client touchpoint counts, the case for enterprise-ready AI is clear. Platforms like Glean don’t just solve the knowledge problem; they build the foundation for sustainable growth, higher client satisfaction, and sharper competitive advantage. For financial advisory firms ready to take the next leap, adopting AI isn’t just about working smarter—it’s about fundamentally transforming how business and client success get done.
Looking to get started with work AI today? Get a free demo of Glean, and learn more about how financial advisors can leverage AI to accelerate and deliver their best work through our latest guide.
