WealthTech Safari - Jan 23, 2026
- Kendrick Wakeman, CFA
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Nationwide Welcomes New Leaders, Income Lab Launches AI Scribe
Insurance and financial services: Nationwide appointed new technology and distribution leaders while Income Lab introduced an AI tool for automated retirement planning.
Significance: These developments highlight the accelerating integration of artificial intelligence and specialized leadership to enhance advisor productivity and client retention.
OneDigital Introduces Private Investments Within Personalized Portfolios for Defined Contribution Plans
Insurance and benefit firm: OneDigital integrated private equity and credit strategies into advisor-managed 401(k) portfolios through partnerships with global asset managers.
Significance: This move democratizes institutional-quality alternative investments for retail retirement savers while maintaining fiduciary oversight and liquidity standards.
Schwab Plans to Ramp Up, Expand RIA Lending Options for Clients
Financial services giant: Charles Schwab is significantly expanding its lending and banking capabilities to help independent advisors compete with major wirehouses.
Significance: By increasing access to liquidity for ultra-high-net-worth clients, Schwab aims to drive asset consolidation and support RIA fiduciary independence.
DOL, White House Near Release of Proposed 401(k) Alts Rule
Federal regulatory agency: The Department of Labor submitted a proposed rule to facilitate the inclusion of private equity and other alternative investments in 401(k) plans.
Significance: The rule aims to provide a clear regulatory framework for fiduciaries, though it faces scrutiny over transparency and high fees.
Knote: The OMB typically has 90 days to complete their review but can ask for a 30-day extension if they feel they need it. Then a 60-day public comment period, so it could be a summer event. I’m guessing due diligence is going to be a big thing in this initiative. Entrepreneurs might want to put their thinking caps on as to how they could solve that problem.
Edelman Moves to Orion for Tech Stack
Independent wealth management firm: Edelman Financial Engines transitioned its $308 billion technology infrastructure from Envestnet to Orion’s comprehensive wealth management suite.
Significance: This major transition reflects a strategic shift to better integrate internal systems and enhance the digital client experience under new leadership.
Flanks and FinReg360 launch EDX: Europe’s first standardized financial data exchange protocol
Financial data providers: Flanks and FinReg360 introduced EDX, a standardized protocol to unify financial position data exchange across the European wealth management sector.
Significance: This initiative reduces manual workloads and operational costs, moving Europe closer to a fully integrated open finance ecosystem.
Knote: Bravissimo! This has been a problem for a while in Europe. Hopefully, it gets fully adopted, and also hopefully, it accommodates alternative investments.
Groww steps up wealth play via MF and portfolio management solutions
Indian fintech platform: Groww is launching new mutual fund and portfolio management solutions to transition from a discount broker to a full-service wealth manager.
Significance: The expansion targets higher-value investors and intensifies competition with traditional wealth managers through technology-driven advisory services.
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