In the world of robo 2017, C.A.S.H. is king

For those of you who seek yearly prognostication, here we go. I see four factors or trends driving the evolution of robo world in 2017, and attempt to capture them here with a simple, suitable acronym: C.A.S.H.

• Cross border activity: We’re now seeing robo advisors extend their reach across national borders. This is not just the case in Europe (think German-UK robo Scalable and Italy’s Moneyfarm, which launched in the UK) but in North America as well. I comment on the planned entrance of Toronto based robo Wealthsimple into the US market in Financial Planning.
• Asset managers will continue to seek distribution, launching robo advisory platforms that enable the advisor to market their products. They’ll also want a share of advisor profits.
• Synergies with CRM, compliance and other tech providers will deepen, as robos become more tightly integrated into the wealth management ecosystem. It’s no coincidence that two of the portfolio optimization software providers featured in my last report offer robo advisory platforms.
• Hedge fund-like robos will prosper in an more volatile economic environment. These robos will use passive instruments to take a position on the market, and in some cases, allow users to “steer” (or apply their own views to) investment decisions.

Taken together, these trends signal the “mainstreaming” of robo advisory capabilities. Robo advice platforms are now less a “nice to have” than a core part of the incumbent advice offer. As such, these platforms are becoming increasingly bound up in the larger industry infrastructure. Those robos that seek to keep themselves distant or apart from this ecosystem will find themselves exposed, and short of cash, once the current funding cycle dries up.