In 2025, eMoney Advisor celebrated its 25th anniversary. To commemorate this milestone and create content for the eMoney Summit, a virtual conference for advisors and advisory firms, eMoney partnered with 8 Acre Perspective to examine how financial planning has evolved over the past quarter century—and where it is headed next.
Through a series of in-depth interviews with industry experts, the research captured perspectives from across the financial services ecosystem, including wealth management executives, financial planning leaders, strategy consultants, academics, and technology providers. Together, these voices offered a reflective look at the forces that have reshaped the industry and the opportunities that lie ahead. Key takeaways from the research include:
- Financial planning look very different today vs. 25 years ago:
- Expanded from covering basic financial matters to delivering holistic guidance that considers the full scope of a client’s life, goals, and well-being
- Evolved from static and episodic to dynamic and ongoing
- Technology has been the key enabler of change (cloud-based software, unprecedented access to data, advanced financial planning software, etc.)
- Looking forward, excitement is building around the expanding impact of financial planning, fueled by technological advances, especially AI
- Advisors will win on what can’t be automated: trust, empathy, and connection
- Financial Psychology (FinPsych) is emerging as a foundational pillar, the lens through which modern planning must be delivered
