AI belongs at your RIA too

It’s easy to watch custodians and asset managers explore AI and assume it takes a big budget to get started. For a small or midsized RIA, the useful starting point may already be on your team’s to-do list.

Cerulli reported in January 2026 that 70% of billion-dollar RIAs were using AI for notetaking or call documentation. That’s a finding about large RIAs, but the task itself is familiar to firms of every size.

My view: AI won’t replace the value of a human relationship. Used thoughtfully, it can help you spend less time preparing for conversations and more time having them. Here are five things I’d consider.

1. Prepare for meetings. Use an approved tool to turn permitted CRM information into a draft agenda and questions. Check the details before walking into the room.
2. Capture the follow-through. With appropriate consent and an approved meeting tool, draft notes and action items. Have someone verify them before updating records or sending anything.
3. Get past the blank page. Draft an educational email, webinar outline, or client FAQ using approved material. Add your perspective, check every claim, and follow your firm’s review process.
4. Make routine work easier. Turn an existing onboarding process into a clearer checklist, or create a first draft of internal instructions. These are useful places to learn without starting with client advice.
5. Run a small experiment. Choose one task, one owner, and a 30-day trial. Count time saved after checking and correcting the output. Use approved tools and confirm how they handle data before entering confidential information.

The goal isn’t to use AI everywhere. It’s to give your team a little breathing room and put that time back into the relationships clients hired you for.

Sources

• Cerulli Associates — Billion-Dollar RIAs Accelerate AI and Data Investments to Drive Next-Stage Growth (January 29, 2026)