To effect genuine change, you have to be bold. Think differently. No, really differently.

Tinkering at the edges of the advice process won’t cut it anymore. We need to rethink the entire model from the ground up if we’re going to deliver advice at scale.

Because here’s the reality: plenty of customers want financial advice. More people than ever, in fact. But the UK’s advice industry isn’t set up to meet that demand. The supply of advisers has stagnated at around 28,000.

Meanwhile, more people need help navigating increasingly complex financial decisions. If we want to close this gap, we need a different approach.

That’s why we wrote a research report on Advice at Scale, to provide a clear picture of what’s actually working for firms that seek to deliver advice at scale. And from our research, one thing is clear: firms that get this right aren’t just adding tech to the advice process. They’re reimagining how advice is delivered.

The problem isn’t capacity, it’s structure

Most discussions about scaling advice start in the wrong place, with a focus on capacity. The assumption is that we just need to make the process more efficient, and everything will fall into place.

But advice doesn’t scale the same way as manufacturing or software. Advice is a regulated service, and client engagement is built on trust. The challenge isn’t just how many clients an adviser can serve, it’s about how advice is structured in the first place.

From our research, firms succeeding in advice at scale are taking three bold steps:

1. They’re redesigning the customer journey, not just digitising it.
2. They’re separating advice from guidance while preparing for regulation to shift.
3. They’re blending technology and human interaction in a way that makes advice more engaging.

What leading firms are doing differently

Our Advice at Scale report showcases real world case studies of firms that are successfully rethinking advice delivery.

One key theme? There’s no single ‘right’ model.

Some firms have built their own digital advice journeys from scratch. Others have partnered with fintechs to enhance customer engagement. And some have layered hybrid advice services onto existing infrastructure.

If there’s one takeaway from this research, it’s this: firms that aren’t actively rethinking their advice model will struggle to keep pace.

What next?

The business opportunity of getting this right is massive. So too is the opportunity for better financial futures for millions.

The Advice at Scale report provides a deep dive into the firms getting it right, with detailed case studies and practical takeaways.

If you’re working through these challenges, we’d love to share our findings with you.

📩 Get in touch to purchase the report: enquiries@nextwealth.co.uk