AI conversations supporting sailors' mental health.

Financial Advice is next...

Or is it?

The headline got my attention (well played). But the details are different than what you probably imagine.

A number of you have asked me to talk about technology from time to time. This story seems worth it.

Conversational AI is being used to support mental health in the Navy.

But the Navy isn't replacing human psychiatrists with AI.

They're creating a new layer of support that makes human professionals more effective.

I see a direct parallel to what's coming in our industry.

For years, I've watched advisors spend countless hours on:
- Answering basic portfolio questions
- Explaining market movements
- Reassuring anxious clients during volatility

All valuable, but within 2-3 years, everything changes.

The most forward-thinking firms will deliver this support instantly, 24/7.

Advisors will finally focus on the complex advice that computers can't deliver.

As both the technology matures and compliance frameworks adapt, here's what we'll see:
- Future-focused firms will deploy AI to monitor client communications.
- It will answer routine questions and maintain a continuous presence.
- All while alerting the human advisor when deeper expertise is needed.

The results will reshape our industry:
→ Significantly higher client satisfaction scores
→ More referrals from delighted clients
→ Deeper relationships built on strategic guidance
→ Advisors spending 70-80% of their time on complex advice

This technology isn't widely implemented today.
Regulatory considerations and technical limitations still exist.

But the shift is inevitable.

The Navy, despite its traditional approach to most things, recognized something we all must:
Technology and human expertise aren't mutually exclusive.

They're complementary.

The advisors who prepare for this future won't fear AI.
They'll be positioning themselves to become the advisors they've always wanted to be.

What routine aspects of your client service would you most want to enhance with AI once compliance frameworks evolve?