Fera Jeraj, Chief Technology Officer at Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management, on how AI is reshaping sector priorities
As clients demand more personalized solutions and streamlined experiences, technology and innovation are taking on an increasingly critical role in the wealth management industry. Firms that embrace these advancements are empowering their advisors to deliver tailored strategies that help drive better client outcomes and experiences.
Fera Jeraj, Chief Technology Officer at Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management, explains that leveraging data is essential for modern advisors. The investments made by Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management in recent years have seen the firm reach a level of data maturity where they can utilize insights to help advisors deliver personalized investment solutions, providing advisors and clients with faster, more seamless experiences.
"By leveraging personalized data, advisors can enhance their client services with tailored offerings that reflect the unique needs of each individual," Jeraj says. "We view this as essential to advisors unlocking the potential within their practice."
One of the primary focus areas for Jeraj and her team is enhancing the client experience through customized digital solutions.
"We're actively exploring how we enhance our client-facing capabilities to deliver personalization, whether that be research, news, or information that clients are specifically interested in, especially regarding their portfolios and investments," Jeraj says. "By understanding clients' preferences and financial behavior, we are building an experience that is relevant and valuable, allowing advisors to foster deeper client trust and engagement."
Another significant advancement at Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management is the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) to summarize client interactions and drive the concept of the 'next best action.' This might involve alerting advisors to a tax event or identifying an investment opportunity.
Jeraj explains that AI tools like Copilot are already being used at Canaccord Genuity to automate workflows, enhancing efficiency in advisor practices. By leveraging AI, advisors can stay ahead of their clients' needs, delivering proactive, tailored solutions rather than merely reacting to situations
Jeraj highlights how this commitment to technology and innovation has transformed several aspects of client interaction—from onboarding and account management to delivering financial statements—into a seamless, automated experience.
"We've created a platform that automates client onboarding, KYC updates, and account servicing," she says. "It removes the need for manual entry, reducing errors and improving efficiency and overall experience."
Another focus area for Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management, as they develop tools for their advisors, is ensuring end-to-end integration across platforms so advisors don't need to duplicate work and can avoid the 'swivel chair' effect often experienced in the industry.
"The capabilities we are introducing enable advisors to scale their practices and grow AUA without necessarily having to grow their practice from a people perspective," Jeraj says. "Automation frees up advisors to spend more time on high-value client relationships, positioning them to manage a growing number of clients without compromising service quality."
Looking forward, Jeraj emphasizes that AI and automation are not only a trend but a transformative force that will continue to shape the future of wealth management. CG has created several strategic partnerships, including one with Microsoft, to stay at the forefront of AI developments, particularly with large language models like OpenAI's GPT.
The combination of AI and automation is helping advisors shift their focus from routine tasks to more strategic, relationship-based work. While technology and innovation can assist in automating time-consuming manual tasks, human judgment remains essential in making the most of the technology. Jeraj underscores this balance, highlighting that the goal is to equip advisors with better tools, not replace them.
