NextWealth and Fidelity FundsNetwork have published a series of reports considering the changing environment of financial advice, the challenges faced by advice firms and the adaption of the role of the financial adviser. Over the past two decades we have seen changes in technology, regulation and even the structure of the industry, each posing their own unique challenges to overcome. In March 2020 financial advice firms were faced with yet another hurdle; the coronavirus crisis. This research series put these difficulties into focus to identify key areas for support.

The series is titled ‘IFA DNA’ and include the following reports:

• How the advice sector is adapting to the coronavirus crisis
• The changing picture of financial advice
• Skills of the modern financial adviser

How the advice sector is adapting to the coronavirus crisis
The Adviser Pulse study compares the views from financial advisers in May to those held before the pandemic in January 2020. There is a strong focus on the changes in advisers attitudes and the adaptions to society as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

The changing picture of financial advice
The financial advice industry has undergone immense change in a variety of different areas, such as technology, regulation and even structurally. This report determines what it really means to be a financial adviser within this ever changing industry.

Skills of the modern financial adviser
The skills required to be a successful financial adviser have adapted along side the changing environment. The Skills of the modern financial adviser study dives into how these skills have changed over time and identifies new skills that will becoming increasing important in the future.