Senior Partner & Financial Planner
Woodgate Financial Inc.
Jason Pereira MBA CFA CFP (Can & US) RFP TEP FP Canada Fellow is a well-known and accomplished financial planner and industry advocate. He is also recognized as one of the leading financial advisor industry thought leaders and speakers on various financial advisor technology-related topics, including digital transformation and practice management, digital engagement, and artificial intelligence. He serves as an advisor to several Advisor Technology startups, consults on issues surrounding digital transformation, and is the host of the Fintech Impact Podcast, where he has interviewed over 400 fintech founders, executives, and thought leaders in the space.
Two competing visions for AI are emerging in wealth advisory. The first emphasizes digitization and automation—scaling through higher client-to-advisor ratios and replacing advisors with processes. The second vision reflects our industry’s actual trajectory: each technological advance has enabled advisors to serve fewer clients more comprehensively. This approach prioritizes effectiveness over efficiency, recognizing that guiding clients toward financial wellbeing is deeply human work—helping people understand their needs, navigate emotional barriers, and achieve their goals. Here, AI enhances our ability to serve as empathic guides with practical behavioral expertise, not just technical planners. Embracing this vision offers a constructive path forward for an industry defining its evolution.