At Future Proof, Orion Gives a Peek at AI Portfolio Comparison Tool

Orion Advisor Solutions on Tuesday used the Future Proof conference in Huntington Beach, California to reveal the key feature of its integrated technology suite: an artificial intelligence-driven portfolio comparison tool.

The tool combines behavioral finance with AI and enables advisors to “deepen client relations at scale by evaluating scenarios and making decisions like never before,” according to Orion.

Noting that the feature was part of the “longstanding vision” of Eric Clarke, Orion founder and CEO, the company said it will officially launch at its Ascent 2024 conference, March 12-15 in San Diego. Orion said in May that Clarke will be retiring by the end of this year.

In November, Orion’s portfolio comparison tool will be made accessible to select advisor beta groups. By Ascent 2024, the tool will be open to all advisors using Orion Advantage, it said.

At Future Proof on Tuesday, Clarke; Dr. Daniel Crosby, Orion chief behavioral officer; and Mike Wilson, technology executive vice president, demonstrated how fiduciaries can leverage a combination of AI and BeFi to “cultivate richer, more impactful customer engagement” using Orion’s new tool.

“I do believe it is quite significant,” Timothy Welsh, CEO, president and founder of Nexus Strategy, who attended the session, said by email on Wednesday. “The session was packed, standing room only, so it definitely resonated with advisors.”

Crosby has developed “some cutting-edge BeFi tools to help advisors get a better view into their clients and how they make decisions, react to various market conditions and changes in their financial situation,” Welsh said. “Integrating those into the portfolio construction process is really taking advice to the next level.”

Welsh predicted: “This will be very well received as it not only creates efficiencies for advisor workflows, but also deeply impacts the client experience advisors can develop. Score another win for Eric!”

The tool’s features include: scenario visualizations allowing advisors to more clearly demonstrate potential effects of portfolio decisions; enhanced precision that “reduces the need for guesswork and constant adjustments in decision-making”; centralized workflow that simplifies the advisor’s operations; custom client engagement; and integration of Orion Systems, the company said.

Also, AI natural language generation is used to develop narratives to help advisors explain potentially complex investment concepts in a way that’s relatable and understandable to clients, the company said.

Pictured: Eric Clarke, CEO of Orion Advisor Services.