US wealth manager stocks sink as traders flee next AI casualty

Core Viewpoint - The wealth-management industry is facing significant disruption from AI technologies, leading to a selloff in related stocks as investors express concerns about the potential impact on traditional business models and fee structures [1][5][12]. Group 1: Market Reactions - The recent selloff in wealth-management stocks was triggered by the introduction of an AI tool by Altruist Corp., which helps financial advisers personalize strategies for clients [11][12]. - Major companies like Raymond James Financial Inc. and Charles Schwab Corp. experienced significant declines, with Raymond James dropping 8.8% and Charles Schwab sinking 7.4%, marking their worst days since March 2020 and April respectively [11][12]. - The S&P 500 insurance index fell 3.9% on Monday, its worst session since October, before rebounding by 0.8% the following day [9][12]. Group 2: Analyst Insights - Analysts express high uncertainty regarding the future of companies in the wealth-management sector, with UBS analyst Michael Brown noting the difficulty in predicting the next 12 to 24 months [2][12]. - Concerns about AI disrupting financial advice and wealth-management models are prevalent, with analysts highlighting fears of fee compression and market-share shifts [5][12]. - Some analysts, like Wilma Burdis from Raymond James Financial Inc., argue that the selloff may be overblown, emphasizing that clients still prefer human advisors for trust [8][12]. Group 3: Industry Developments - Executives from major asset management firms, including Blackstone and Apollo Global Management, are actively addressing investor concerns about AI's potential to disrupt their businesses [5][12]. - New startups like Rogo Technologies and Hebbia are emerging, aiming to leverage AI to enhance financial services and improve efficiency [10][12]. - Leading AI developers, including OpenAI, are expanding their offerings in the financial sector, indicating a growing intersection between AI technology and financial services [11][12].