The 2025 season for fintech deals has officially begun, with two firms announcing separate strategic partnerships.
On Wednesday, InvestCloud announced it has partnered with First American Bank, a regional financial institution with $7 billion in assets and 61 locations across Illinois, Wisconsin, and Florida.
Under the newly forged collaboration, FAB will modernize its digital wealth management ecosystem by incorporating InvestCloud’s Client Experience, Prospect Experience, and Advisor Experience solutions. In contrast to its previous technology stack with multiple systems, the partnership aims to build a single unified platform with connected technology.
The end goal, the two firms said, is to incorporate investment data, reporting, and documents into one intuitive experience for clients, advisors, and relationship managers.
“This collaboration reflects our commitment to driving innovation in the banking sector, enabling advisors and clients to engage with their financial data seamlessly while enhancing the overall client experience,” Kapin Vora, the president InvestCloud's North American digital wealth division, said in a statement.
Jane Nagel, head of wealth management at First American Bank, said its new digital platform "represents a substantial investment in cutting-edge technology and underscores our unwavering commitment to delivering an exceptional and personalized wealth management experience.”
Prio to that on Monday, WealthFeed, an AI-powered prospecting platform, announced its own strategic tie-up with RIA Growth Catalyst.
Under that partnership, WealthFeed will stream thousands of verified data points into the RIA Growth Catalyst platform. That includes access to critical information such as contact details, alma mater, net worth, and age, as well as AI-driven insights.
Julien Baneux, founder and CEO of RIA Growth Catalyst, underscored the potential benefits for RIA acquisition, advisor recruitment, and building out client rosters.
"By integrating WealthFeed's data directly into our platform, we enable our users to focus on building relationships and achieving their growth goals," Baneux said Monday.
WealthFeed co-founder echoed the sentiment, highlighting how the platform "empowers RIAs to succeed in the competitive M&A landscape [and] thrive in their client acquisition strategies."
Sharing a bullish outlook, fixed income strategists say they're "not terribly concerned" over a proposal to scrap the muni bond tax exemption.
The estate planning-focused platforms are reinforcing their leadership with an executive hire and a new AI-powered capability.
The state's order is a step in negotiating a potential fine with the firm.
The state's attorney general warned Goldman, JPMorgan, BlackRock, and other heavyweights of possible legal consequences to their diversity policies.
Financial advisors generally agree with a recent survey of economists that the odds of a recession in 2025 remain small.
AssetMark Group CEO explains why the great wealth transfer, succession planning, and personalization will be key for advisors in the new year.
A trust delivery model not only increases the value of an advisor and a firm but is also a natural addition to any firm’s succession plan.