Robinhood expanded its AI-powered investment tool to UK customers, giving retail investors access to automated summaries that explain why stocks are moving. The feature, called Digests by Robinhood Cortex, uses artificial intelligence to scan breaking news, analyst reports, technical data and the company’s internal trading information. It then produces plain-English explanations for stock price movements that appear directly on individual stock pages within the app. UK customers can access Digests at no additional cost when the rollout completes. Robinhood positions Digests as an educational tool rather than investment advice. The summaries aim to help users understand market dynamics and form their own investment opinions before making trades. “We believe our UK customers, from first-time investors to seasoned traders, will appreciate the timely, accessible summaries that highlight what may be moving a stock,” said Jordan Sinclair, President at Robinhood UK. The AI assistant analyzes multiple data streams simultaneously, including news reports, analyst coverage, technical indicators and proprietary trading data from Robinhood’s platform. Users can find these summaries by navigating to any supported stock’s detail page within the mobile app. At launch, Digests covers many of the most actively traded stocks on Robinhood’s UK platform. The company plans to expand coverage and introduce additional AI-powered features over time.
Bloomberg launches Screened Choice indices; a customizable equity benchmark suite letting investors apply values-based exclusions
Bloomberg has introduced the Screened Choice Indices, a suite of equity benchmarks designed to give investors greater control over how they apply values-based exclusions to their portfolios. These market cap-weighted benchmarks allow users to either adopt existing benchmarks or customise them to reflect their specific investment criteria. The indices are built on a rules-based, modular methodology that groups exclusions into six themes, which can be applied individually or in combination to suit investor mandates. The six modules include Core, Fossil Fuels and Non-Renewable Energy, Fossil Fuels Enhanced, Vice Products, Weapons, and Controversial Conduct. At launch, 66 off-the-shelf indices are available, including Bloomberg Select Indices, Bloomberg Select FossilEX Indices, and the Bloomberg Screened Choice Indices. The indices are available in both USD and EUR and cover 11 global regions, including developed and emerging markets. Investors and clients can access the indices directly via the Bloomberg Terminal at {IN EQ }, with research and methodologies provided on the Bloomberg Indices Documentation page.
LinePoint Partners platform enables ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) breakaway financial advisors and single family office (SFO) executives to independently operate and grow their practices without designing from scratch in-house
One new entrant to the family office industry, LinePoint Partners, aims to help advisors leaving wirehouses and private banks build up an array of services needed to work with wealthy clients. Andrew Sternlight, LinePoint’s president and chief investment officer, said what sets family offices apart from other wealth managers is the priority family offices place on preserving wealth for future generations, charitable causes or other recipients. “That’s where we think, by extending that sort of family office infrastructure to advisors or to one or two executives of a family office without building out their teams entirely,” Sternlight said. “That’s where we can provide a bit of a solution that has the benefits with that multigenerational lens, but not the cost of designing from scratch in-house.” Andrew Lom, U.S. head of financial services and global head of private wealth at the law firm Norton Rose Fulbright, agreed that the true differentiator for family offices is the emphasis they place on making sure clients can bequeath their wealth exactly how they want. Ron LaVelle, a principal in the private wealth practice of the accounting and consulting firm Baker Tilly, said clients have the ultimate say on what their family office does. With the list of possible service offerings always growing, and the number of multifamily offices serving several wealthy families also rising, it’s becoming ever more rare for firms to be able to do it all. In fact, LaVelle said, he tends to be wary of firms that claim to be everything for everyone.
FNZ launches AI-powered Advisor platform delivering real-time client insights, automating meeting lifecycles, and boosting productivity through personalized wealth management at scale
Wealth management platform FNZ has launched FNZ Advisor AI, a generative AI solution embedded directly into FNZ’s market leading wealth management platform. The solution will help financial advisors enhance productivity, deliver more personalized advice and serve more clients at scale. FNZ Advisor AI integrates intelligent automation and AI-driven efficiencies directly into FNZ’s market leading platform, placing powerful capabilities right at an advisor’s fingertips. With more than 650 financial institution partners, over 26 million end investors and close to $2 trillion in assets on platform, FNZ provides access to one of the largest wealth management data sets in the world. This enables FNZ Advisor AI to support smarter, faster decision-making by generating real-time insights based on client and portfolio data. Advisors can proactively identify opportunities, flag risks and tailor their recommendations across their full book of business, ultimately driving better client outcomes. Advisor AI also automates the entire client meeting lifecycle. Advisors can now prepare for meetings using personalized insights, access relevant content during client meetings, and use Advisor AI to transcribe and analyze the discussions afterwards. The advanced solution will also highlight key points that require follow-up and guide advisors on the most relevant next conversations to have with each client. The time spent on repetitive administrative tasks is significantly reduced, freeing up advisors to spend more time with clients and focus on delivering high-quality, personalized advice.
Gen X doubt their retirement readiness: 54% feel unprepared, target $1.57M (average is $1.26M), 56% fear they’ll outlive savings and 48% plan to keep working post retirement
Northwestern Mutual’s 2025 Planning & Progress Study found that 54% of Gen don’t believe they’ll be financially ready when retirement arrives. The study also found that Gen Xers expect they’ll need $1.57 million to retire comfortably, which is a hefty $310,000 above the national “magic number” average. And their financial worries weigh heavily as 35% of Gen Xers say these concerns keep them up at night at least once a month, versus only 14% of baby boomers. Among those who have set aside money for retirement, the most common response (17%) was that they’ve saved about twice their current annual income. “Many Gen X’ers are juggling responsibilities on both ends, supporting aging parents while still helping their children,” said Jeff Sippel, chief strategy officer at Northwestern Mutual. “They’re also the first generation to truly feel the impact of the move from defined benefit plans to defined contribution plans. “All of this puts more of the burden of financial planning on their shoulders. That’s where a comprehensive financial plan custom-built by a trusted advisor can make a real impact. It can help Gen X’ers get clarity on what they need as they head toward their retirement years and put a realistic game plan in place to get there.” 56% of Gen Xers believe they will outlive their savings, compared with 40% of boomers, according to the research. The study also noted that Gen Xers are the least likely of any generation to expect to leave an inheritance. The study shows Gen X has less clarity than boomers on key financial issues, from the impacts of inflation and taxes on retirement to planning for health and long-term care. Half of Gen Xers say they’ve had a financial blind spot, focusing too much on building wealth without adequately protecting their assets, compared with 35% of boomers. 48% of Gen Xers expect to work during retirement, often out of necessity. One-third plan to work part time in a different job, while one-quarter expect to work full-time elsewhere. By comparison, less than one-third (30%) of boomers say they’ll work in retirement.
Digital marketing platform for financial advisors Wealthtender can automatically structure FAQ content to be more easily surfaced in Google AI Overviews and as direct answers in AI tools by embedding FAQ schema on advisor websites and profiles
Wealthtender, a digital marketing platform for financial advisors and wealth management firms, announced the launch of AI-Optimized FAQs, extending its range of features that play a valuable role in Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Answer Engine Optimization (AEO). By embedding FAQ schema, a specialized code recognized by search engines and answer engines, Wealthtender automatically structures FAQ content to be more easily surfaced in Google AI Overviews and as direct answers in AI tools. Brian Thorp, Wealthtender founder and CEO. “With traditional search engines evolving to include AI Overviews and the rapid adoption of AI-powered tools like ChatGPT and Gemini, FAQs published on advisor websites and Wealthtender profiles, especially when enhanced with FAQ schema, are more powerful than ever for building trust, visibility, credibility, and increasing the likelihood of an advisor landing on a prospect’s shortlist.” Upon activation of the AI-Optimized FAQs feature, advisors can publish up to 10 questions and answers on their Wealthtender profiles that showcase their expertise and areas of specialization, address common questions, and appear more prominently when prospective clients use Google, ChatGPT, Gemini, and other AI search tools to find and evaluate financial advisors.
Local small-scale investors revive vacant homes, adding over 30,000 affordable units in 2025, with renovated properties priced 35% to 80% below new builds across key markets.
Local investors have officially surpassed builders in adding new housing supply in many markets, according to a new report from New Western. In 2025, investors have brought 30,852 renovated single-family homes back to market in New Western coverage areas — far exceeding the 18,973 new builds sold this year. Kurt Carlton, co-founder and president of New Western, told the imbalance is striking. “There’s a huge need for affordable housing, and the builders can’t supply it, but we have 15 million vacant homes,” he said. “They’re highly educated, corporate refugees that have left high incomes, looking for something more autonomous, and they’re taking those management skills, rehabbing these houses and bringing them back to the market. Some are making income beyond what they were seeing in the corporate sector. Institutional investors accounted for only 1.93% of all home purchases in Q1 2025 and just 6.6% of investor purchases, down 62% from their 2021 peak. Most operate close to home — with 68% investing within 30 miles of where they live. About 78% plan to purchase just one to five properties in the next year. Carlton argued that policymakers don’t yet grasp the role these small investors play. The Neighborhood Homes Investment Act would create a federal tax credit to build and rehabilitate affordable homes for urban, suburban, rural and tribal communities. More than 70% of revitalized homes are purchased off-market — never showing up in MLS data, according to the report. Carlton said the omission distorts the picture. There’s a million that are off-market. These are generally not habitable. It’s the type of house that a local real estate investor really needs to buy and revive.” Revitalized homes typically re-enter the market at significantly lower price points than both existing homes and new construction. The report found the average existing home sale price was 54% higher than the average revitalized home — and the median existing home price was 17% higher. Compared to new builds, revitalized homes are often 35% to 80% less expensive. “It’s really challenging for builders to supply affordable inventory in the areas that need it,” Carlton said.
Kraken’s new perpetual contract turns crypto trading into sports-style bets; allows users to speculate on crypto price without owning the underlying asset
Cryptocurrency exchange Kraken has launched a new derivatives product, introducing simplified perpetual contracts it calls “Kraken Perps.” The contracts, now available in select regions to eligible clients worldwide, allow users to speculate on crypto price movements without owning the underlying asset. “Perps are trading instruments designed to let users speculate on future price movements, up or down, without owning the asset involved,” the exchange explained. The mechanics remain rooted in derivatives trading. To open a position, users fund trades with collateral from their Kraken balance. At launch, USD serves as the supported collateral, with other assets expected to follow. Traders then choose whether to increase or decrease exposure to a chosen cryptocurrency’s price. The exchange said it will roll out educational resources to help users understand the mechanics and risks involved. Still, the choice of sports betting analogies has prompted debate about whether retail clients will fully grasp the leverage and volatility embedded in such instruments. Kraken Perps are reportedly live in select regions for eligible clients, with plans to expand access. The company framed the product not as a call to day-trade, but as another tool for expressing market views and building portfolio strategies. The contracts, now available on Kraken Pro, operate without expiry, distinguishing them from standard FX products that follow set trading hours or maturities. According to Kraken, the mechanics of the FX perps are modeled on its existing crypto perpetual contracts, aiming to provide a familiar trading experience for its user base.
For investors integrating generative AI into asset management, best practices are structured internal data, prompt engineering, targeted workflows focused on specific use cases, and vertical AI champions in departments such as equities and fixed income
Bernstein Research has identified 10 best practices for investors integrating generative AI into asset management, emphasizing the importance of structured data, targeted workflows, and measurable outcomes. The brokerage emphasizes the need for clean, structured internal data, prompt engineering, centralizing data, breaking down daily workflows into specific use cases, and developing vertical AI champions. To scale AI effectively, firms should prioritize top use cases, structure offsite exercises, and engage in regular knowledge-sharing sessions within teams. Developing vertical AI champions in departments such as equities, fixed income, legal, or compliance ensures solutions remain close to real use cases. Dedicated AI talent is also needed, with some firms assigning specific team members to focus on AI tools or hiring external specialists. Tools like Daloopa and ModelML are cited for model automation and internal data integration. Early engagement with implementation partners or adopting ready-made AI tools can speed progress without requiring deep technical expertise. In the future, organizations should prepare to work with hybrid teams of humans and artificial intelligence, requiring robust data infrastructure and governance. Clear metrics to evaluate Gen AI’s impact include operational efficiency, error rate reduction, time to generate insights, volume of AI-generated ideas, and comparisons with human output. Success in portfolio management can be assessed by time saved during scenario analysis and the frequency of bias avoidance in decisions post-AI implementation.
JPMorgan says ETF and treasury demand propel Ether as funds draw near‑bitcoin July inflows; prospects of SEC‑permitted staking of spot ETF will unlock mainstream yield access
Ether (ETH) has outperformed bitcoin (BTC) over the past month, buoyed by strong inflows into spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and growing corporate treasury allocations, Wall Street bank JPMorgan (JPM) said in a report. The move comes in the wake of U.S. stablecoin legislation (the GENIUS Act) and ahead of an anticipated vote on a broader crypto market structure bill by the end of September, the report said. In July, spot ether ETFs saw record inflows of $5.4 billion, nearly matching bitcoin ETF inflows over the same period. While bitcoin ETFs have posted modest outflows in August, ether funds continue to attract capital, JPMorgan noted. The bank’s analysts pointed to four main factors behind ether’s recent strength. Investors are betting the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will eventually permit staking for spot ether ETFs, which would turn them into yield-generating products while lowering technical barriers for participation. Corporate demand is also rising, the analysts noted, with about 10 publicly traded firms now holding ether equal to a total of 2.3% of the circulating supply. Some of these companies may seek additional income through staking or decentralized finance (DeFi) strategies. JPMorgan suggested ether holdings in both ETFs and corporate treasuries could rise further, pointing to bitcoin’s higher share of circulating supply locked up across both categories as a benchmark.