While artificial intelligence is seemingly everywhere, for financial advisors, it has mostly been relegated to making the menial back-office tasks of notetaking, email writing, agenda setting and calendar filling more efficient.

However, some startups are taking things further, utilizing their technical expertise (not necessarily AI) to develop tools that enhance the business capabilities of advisors and their end-clients. 

From the pitfalls of long-term planning to the challenges of business valuations and 401(k) plan management, these products are widening the playing field for advisors, boosting their value proposition for potential clients. 

For example, bQuest launched earlier this year, providing vetted aging care-related services to advisors as an extension of their core financial planning model. Carefull, an application for monitoring the day-to-day financial safety of the elderly and those in cognitive decline, also announced in October the rollout of GreyMatter, its artificial intelligence insights engine.

RISR, which defines itself as the first comprehensive business owner engagement platform for financial advisors, raised $1.5 million to help advisors sift through data while working with private business owners. 

And there’s more. Tech columnist Davis Janowski talked with them all throughout the year. Here are some of what came out of those conversations. 

Related:What If the RIA Industry Doesn’t Need More Solutions?