Leon Saunders Calvert, President & Managing Director of B2B at The Economist Group, says collecting more data is not the answer. Instead, it’s about mastering the art of contextualizing the data. Turning data into actionable insights is the way of the future for the financial industry, and today’s wealth managers must leverage a mix of the big picture and granular details to present the most accurate and compelling narrative of a client’s financial journey.
The financial world struggles with information overload, where the sheer volume of data threatens to overwhelm both advisors and their clients.
This leads to "paralysis by analysis," where a deluge of details ensures nothing meaningful or productive gets done.
Leon Saunders Calvert, President & Managing Director of B2B at The Economist Group, says collecting more data is not the answer. Instead, it’s about mastering the art of contextualizing the data.
In an interview with Finextra TV at the Communify Insights Experience in London, Calvert highlighted the central role of data in finance, explaining that its value isn't in its existence, but in its presentation, manifesting as true intelligence only when delivered to clients in a timely, relevant, and accessible way.
Below are more examples of how financial data can be turned into insights, including (as Calvert pointed out) through use of the Communify platform.
4 Ways to Turn Financial Data into Actionable Insights and Real Intelligence
1. Unify the Data
You can't build a future on a fragmented foundation. That’s why consolidating the data is the first step.
It means moving away from clunky spreadsheets and siloed CRMs; we’re talking about a single, accessible platform that gives you one source of truth. It's the only way to transform numbers into a clear, complete, and powerful narrative.
Without a unified view, the data you're analyzing is incomplete, leading to fragmented insights and a piecemeal client story.
Here are a few ways to begin unifying your data:
- Integrate all data feeds: Connect all your sources, including client data from CRMs, portfolio data from custodians, and market data from exchanges, into a central system.
- Harmonize the data: Use a data normalization tool to ensure all information, regardless of its source, is consistent and usable for analysis.
- Enrich with context: Add a layer of intelligence to your clean data by automatically linking it to relevant events and trends.
2. Leverage AI to Create the Right Narrative
Once your data is unified and accurate, the next step is to use technology for the heavy lifting.
As Leon Saunders Calvert pointed out in the interview, the key is to find the right blend of different types of AI. Deterministic AI, which is rules-based and reliable, excels at performing accurate calculations and logical analysis. Generative, or probabilistic, AI, on the other hand, is adept at taking complex inputs and creating new, compelling narratives.
The most powerful platforms leverage both.
This is the very foundation of Communify's approach. Its MIND AI™ engine uses deterministic AI for accurate financial analysis and calculations, while employing generative AI to power features like Communify Stories™, which automatically transforms raw numbers and market data into the human-centric narratives that truly resonate.
3. Personalize and Deliver the Story
The next step is to deliver these insights in a way that resonates with the client.
It goes beyond just the numbers; it’s about telling a story that's easy to understand and directly relevant to their financial life.
Advisors should leverage platforms that allow them to deliver narratives through various channels, ensuring the communication is both personalized and engaging.
This means presenting information in a way that aligns with how a client prefers to consume content, whether it's through a dynamic, interactive digital experience or a custom-generated summary for an in-person meeting.
4. Add Macro Context with Trusted Partners
The most powerful client stories aren't told in a vacuum. To add a layer of essential context, you must connect micro-level portfolio dynamics to macro-economic trends.
This is why Communify has partnered with the Economist Intelligence Unit, a globally respected provider of world economic data.
This partnership allows Communify to apply the Economist's trusted macro data directly to a client's investment portfolio through a MacroScore™, providing a powerful new dimension of insight.
Leon Saunders Calvert himself has expressed his pleasure in seeing this data applied in such a practical way, turning complex market events into a clear, understandable part of a client's financial narrative.
This unique blend of macro and micro intelligence allows advisors to show clients how their financial life fits within the broader economic trends, which influences their investment portfolios.
Thrive In This New Era of Financial Intelligence
Turning data into actionable insights and trusted stories is the future of the financial industry.
By prioritizing data unification and leveraging powerful AI, advisors can move beyond simple reporting and data gathering to become true partners in their clients' financial journeys.
And to deliver on the promise in this new era, your firm needs a unified platform. It's time to build your future on a platform that delivers real intelligence… it's time for Communify.
