Five ways to start using AI right now
One of the biggest misconceptions about AI is that firms need a detailed strategy before they can get started. In reality, the best approach is often the simplest: pick one task, test it and see what works.
1. Draft routine client communications
Whether it’ s a review invitation, follow-up email, newsletter or protection awareness campaign, AI can help create a first draft in seconds. It won’ t replace your knowledge of the client, but it can remove the blank page and speed up the writing process.
2. Turn meeting notes into actions
After a client meeting, AI can help summarise key discussion points, identify action items and draft follow-up communications. Used well, it can reduce administration time and help ensure important next steps don’ t get missed.
3. Create marketing content more efficiently
Many firms know they need to communicate more frequently, but struggle to find the time. AI can help turn a single idea into LinkedIn posts, blog content, client guides or campaign materials, making it easier to stay visible and engaged with clients.
4. Prepare for better review conversations
AI can also be useful before a meeting. It can help generate review questions, conversation prompts and educational content, giving advisers a stronger starting point and more time to focus on the client discussion itself. It won’ t replace the conversation, it simply helps prepare for it.
5. Make better use of your existing client data
Perhaps the biggest opportunity isn’ t finding new clients – it’ s identifying unmet needs within the existing client bank. AI can help highlight clients who may be overdue a review, have gaps in their protection arrangements or whose circumstances may have changed since they were last contacted.
Start small, but start somewhere
The firms that stand to benefit most from AI might not necessarily be the most technical. More often, they’ ll be the ones willing to test new ideas, learn what works and build on those successes over time.
Rather than trying to transform your business overnight, start with a single process or task. Measure the impact, refine your approach and then look at where else AI could add value.
You don’ t need a dedicated AI strategy from day one, and you certainly don’ t need to understand every new tool that enters the market. What matters is being open to experimentation and finding practical ways to make your business more efficient.
The human adviser still matters most
While AI was a major talking point at the conference, there was broad agreement on one thing; great advice is still built on human relationships.
Protection advice is built on trust, empathy and an understanding of individual circumstances. Advisers help clients navigate complex decisions, address concerns and understand the value of protecting what matters most to them.
AI can support that process, but it cannot replicate the relationships that sit at the centre of good advice. Its real value lies in creating more time for advisers to focus on those conversations that really matter.
Don’ t miss the boat
One of the clearest themes to emerge from the conference was that AI is no longer a future consideration – it’ s happening now.
As Piers reminded attendees, the opportunity isn’ t to replace expertise or human judgement, but to rethink how time is spent and where value is created. For firms considering their first steps, the message was simple; pick one area of your business, try it, learn from it and build from there.
Start small. Start now. Just don’ t miss the boat.
Quite often, the next protection conversation is already sitting within your database.
10 | Protection Adviser Online