{"id":80140,"date":"2025-11-10T16:25:24","date_gmt":"2025-11-10T05:25:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/riskinfo.com.au\/news\/?p=80140"},"modified":"2025-11-13T09:28:26","modified_gmt":"2025-11-12T22:28:26","slug":"human-trust-will-be-advisers-greatest-asset-in-the-age-of-ai","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/riskinfo.com.au\/news\/2025\/11\/10\/human-trust-will-be-advisers-greatest-asset-in-the-age-of-ai\/","title":{"rendered":"Human Trust Will Be Advisers\u2019 Greatest Asset in the Age of AI"},"content":{"rendered":"

Artificial intelligence may transform the financial advice profession, but the one quality it cannot replicate is human trust, according to leadership expert and educator Colin James<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Speaking at the 2025 Bombora Advice Conference, James told delegates that advisers\u2019 ability to build authentic, trust-based client relationships will become the defining advantage in an era where technology delivers speed, precision and near-instant data.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Colin James …Advisers who learn to work with AI as a colleague will gain new levels of efficiency<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cThe moat that will protect your relevance isn\u2019t your data or content\u2014it\u2019s the depth of your client relationships,\u201d he said. \u201cYour humanity, your judgment and your empathy will become even more important.\u201d<\/p>\n

From Trust to Transformation<\/strong><\/p>\n

James described trust as the new competitive currency, urging advisers to strengthen\u2014not surrender\u2014their human edge as artificial intelligence reshapes how clients seek and receive advice.<\/p>\n

\u201cClients will expect immediate answers, 24\/7 service and personalised insights,\u201d he said. \u201cBut they will still turn to advisers for confidence, for understanding and for the reassurance that only comes from human connection.\u201d<\/p>\n

…those who rely solely on technical expertise risk being displaced by automation<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

He warned that those who rely solely on technical expertise risk being displaced by automation, while those who combine technology with emotional intelligence will thrive.<\/p>\n

The Relentless Pace of Change<\/strong><\/p>\n

To illustrate the speed of technological disruption, James cited insurer Generali<\/a>, which has reduced its average claims processing time to 30 seconds using agentic AI\u2014systems capable of independent decision-making. Australian giant Suncorp Group<\/a>, he added, is following suit with its own AI transformation program.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe big end of town is moving fast,\u201d he said. \u201cProcesses that used to take weeks are now measured in seconds. The expectations that will flow from this – speed, responsiveness, constant availability – will ripple right through the advice industry.\u201d<\/p>\n

Yet, he emphasised, technology\u2019s benefits come with a challenge: maintaining the personal trust that underpins all advice relationships.<\/p>\n

For advisers, James proposed a model of \u201cadaptive leadership\u201d\u2014the combination of clarity, confidence and curiosity needed to stay effective in uncertain times.<\/p>\n

\u201cConfidence is an act of equality,\u201d he said. \u201cIt means recognising that no one is better than you and no one is less than you. Curiosity\u2014the willingness to ask \u2018what if?\u2019 – is what keeps us open to change.\u201d<\/p>\n

Five Truths of the AI Era<\/strong><\/p>\n

Referencing AI pioneer Harmeen Mehta<\/strong>, James outlined five \u201ctruths\u201d advisers should consider as they navigate change:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. AI will kill best practice<\/strong> \u2013 established processes will become obsolete faster than ever before.<\/li>\n
  2. Unlimited interns<\/strong> \u2013 advisers will soon have access to AI assistants that can research and analyse information instantly.<\/li>\n
  3. Trust without understanding<\/strong> \u2013 professionals will rely on systems they can\u2019t fully explain, requiring new forms of judgment.<\/li>\n
  4. AI will mirror you<\/strong> \u2013 the technology will reflect users\u2019 own biases and thinking patterns.<\/li>\n
  5. Adaptability quotient (AQ)<\/strong> \u2013 success will depend not on IQ or EQ, but the capacity to adapt and learn quickly.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    \u201cThese truths can be confronting,\u201d he said, \u201cbut they\u2019re also liberating. Advisers who learn to work with AI as a colleague rather than a threat will gain new levels of efficiency, insight and creativity.\u201d<\/p>\n

    Communication as the Human Advantage<\/strong><\/p>\n

    James also highlighted communication as a skill that will define the adviser\u2019s role in the AI era. AI tools, he said, can support training and development, but it is advisers\u2019 ability to connect, persuade and reassure clients that ensures their continuing value.<\/p>\n

    \u201cOur ability to communicate\u2014to make sense of complexity and convey confidence\u2014will be our lasting human contribution,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

    James urged advisers to view artificial intelligence not as an existential threat but as a partner in progress.<\/p>\n

    \u201cWe can default to fear and resistance,\u201d he said, \u201c\u2026or we can get curious. The advisers who adapt, who stay open and who build trust will not just survive this change\u2014they\u2019ll lead it.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Artificial intelligence may transform the financial advice profession, but the one quality it cannot replicate is human trust, according to leadership expert and educator Colin James. Speaking at the 2025 Bombora Advice Conference, James told delegates that advisers\u2019 ability to build authentic, trust-based client relationships will become the defining advantage in an era where technology […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":80149,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8286,6,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-80140","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-ai","category-dealer-groups","category-general"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/riskinfo.com.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80140","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/riskinfo.com.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/riskinfo.com.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/riskinfo.com.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/riskinfo.com.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=80140"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/riskinfo.com.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80140\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/riskinfo.com.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/80149"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/riskinfo.com.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=80140"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/riskinfo.com.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=80140"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/riskinfo.com.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=80140"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}