Welcome to our best financial services innovation articles and thought leadership discussions that the Institute for Innovation Development (IID) developed throughout 2025. The Institute is both an educational, business innovation industry platform and a network of financial services innovators dedicated to increasing awareness, understanding, and spurring more usage of important innovations in thinking and next-generation products/services for financial advisors and industry executives.

Our four Pillars of Coverage focus on where “innovation” is most at play in the industry:

1.)Financial Technology,

2.)Progressive Asset Management,

3.)New Art and Science of Client/Community Engagement,

4.)Practice/Business Management Mindset and Strategy.

 

We actively search for and work with key innovative firms and leaders across these four innovation areas, including interviews with FinTech CEOs, innovative business leaders/consultants, progressive asset managers, and next-generation client and community engagement strategy firms to uncover leading trends, opportunities, and threats within our rapidly evolving industry.

Please review and explore our list of top articles below which will also give you an indication of the innovative people, discussions, and topics that we will continue to explore and bring to you in 2026.

Join us for the ride! Cheers!

 

Uncovering Next-Generation FinTech Services:

AI Agents As Hyper-Efficient Advisor Meeting Assistants (Zeplyn)

How One AI Agent Transformed into a Complete AI Practice Management Powerhouse (Zeplyn)

The New Middle Office: AI Agents As the Next Operational Layer (TIFIN)

 

Understanding How to Apply AI in Financial Services:

How To Navigate the Rapid Technological Shifts Driven by AI (Growthential)

Bridging Enterprise AI's Pilot-To-Production Chasm (ForwardLane)

Why Many Sales Teams Don't Trust AI Intelligence Tools--and How to Fix It (TIFIN)

How AI Will Fill the Advisor Retirement Gap (Dynasty Financial Partners)

 

Uncovering Practice Management/Business Growth Strategies:

Advisor 3.0 And the $84.4 Trillion 'Great Relationship' Transfer (FutureVault)

A New Foundation for Financial Services in a Rapidly Evolving Landscape (Alphascale)

Book Review: The Rainmaker Multiplier (Jason L Smth – C2P)

The Evolving Advisor Family Office Business Model (Schultz Financial Group)

Cybersecurity Threats and Best Defenses for Financial Firms (Ultimus Fund Solutions)

Uncovering the Art and Science Behind Marketing and Engagement Strategies:

Navigating Two Major Financial Marketing Shifts (Wealthtender)

The Marketing Power of Video for Financial Services (FLX Networks)

Why Story Beats Digital for RIA Growth with Wealthy Clients (Sondhelm Partners)

The Complex Dynamics of Designing an ETF Forum (ETF Global)

 

Uncovering Strategic Support for Asset Managers:

A Transformative Investment Management Operating Experience  (Ultimus Fund Solutions)

How Asset Managers Are Applying Modern Investment Technology (Trendrating)

Turnkey ETF Launch Solution--A Speed-To-Market Approach (Exchange Traded Concepts)

 

Uncovering Progressive Investment Management Perspectives:

Ensemble Active Management--Capturing Active Manager Alpha (NextFolio)

The Search for New Age Alpha--Avoiding the Losers (New Age Alpha)

Going Beyond Active and Passive Investment Thinking (Intech)

Digital Assets Investing with an Institutional Risk Management Mindset  (Firinne Capital)

 

Uncovering Deep Dive Thought Leadership on Different Areas of the Investment Markets:

A Keen Eye on the Global ETF Market (ETF Global)

Investment Strategies for Gold at an All-Time High (Orrell Capital Management)

The Dynamic Evolution of Private Market Real Estate Investing (Ellington Management Group)

Vertical Integration as A Private Real Estate Investment Advantage (Rincon Partners)

Perspectives on Small- and Micro-Cap Markets (North Star Investment Management)

A Strategic Roadmap for Real Estate Securities (Third Avenue Management)

A Deep Dive Into 'Quality' Investing (Crawford Investment Counsel)

Small Caps, Rate Cuts and Stock Selection (North Star Investment Council)

 

Uncovering Financial Services Industry Innovation:

Reconfiguring Wealth Management into a Shared Tech and Business Solutions Ecosystem (FLX Networks)

Enterprise-Transforming Digital Vaults Driven by AI And Private LLMs (FutureVault)

The 'Innovation at Speed' Mindset in Financial Services (TIFIN)

Innovating The Hedge Fund Industry (MBX Group)

 

In 2025 we launched a few new ongoing article series reporting on important industry issues which we will be continuing to explore in 2026:

InvesTech - Uncovering Investment Technology Advancements:

Applying AI To the Investment Research Process (Trendrating)

High-Conviction SMAs: Solving Active Management and After-Tax Challenges (NextFolio)

Wealth Management Personalization and Alignment--Solving the Tension (MSCI Wealth)

An Integrated Public/Private Portfolio Analytics Framework for Wealth Managers (MSCI Wealth)

Investing With Conviction: How MSCI's Christian Values Screening Supports Faith-Aligned Portfolios (MSCI)

 

Deeper dive coverage on the FinTech and Entrepreneurial Ecosystems:

Synapse 2025--The State of Fintech and the Startup Ecosystem (Synapse Florida)

The FinTech Accelerator Journey (TampaBay Wave, USF FinTech Center)

 

We welcome you to join us by following our blog for more financial services innovation reporting and insights in 2026!

Thanks,

Bill Hortz
Founder, CEO & Dean
Institute for Innovation Development

 

The Institute for Innovation Development is an educational and business development catalyst for growth-oriented financial advisors and financial services firms determined to lead their businesses in an operating environment of accelerating business and cultural change. We operate as a business innovation platform and educational resource with FinTech and innovative financial services firm members to openly share their unique perspectives and activities. The goal is to build awareness and stimulate open thought leadership discussions on new or evolving industry approaches and thinking to facilitate next-generation growth, differentiation, and unique client/community engagement strategies. The institute was launched with the support and foresight of our founding sponsors – Ultimus Fund Solutions, FLX Networks, Advisorpedia, Pershing, Fidelity, Voya Financial, and Charter Financial Publishing (publisher of Financial Advisor and Private Wealth magazines). 

Institute for Innovation Development - www.innovationdevelopment.org - @innovationIID - IID©2025