Financial planning is undergoing a fundamental shift as client expectations and industry capabilities evolve. Today’s clients are digitally fluent, comparison-savvy, and focused on achieving specific financial goals, while advanced planning tools that were once reserved for high-net-worth clients are becoming broadly accessible.

Firms are rethinking segmentation strategies, moving beyond traditional AUM tiers toward behavioral and life-stage models that enable more tailored engagement. At the same time, AI and automation are beginning to shape the planning process through applications such as AI-generated plan drafts, scenario modeling, natural language-based data intake, and automated document summaries. These trends are repositioning financial planning from a product-adjacent offering to a core, standalone service.