Barron's Advisor Alison Dooher: Why Data Is the Engine Behind RIAs That Scale
Nov 18, 2025
Alison Dooher, Managing Director at Charles Schwab, shares her expertise in advisor technology and data strategy. She emphasizes that top advisory firms make data their core asset, not just software. The discussion highlights the evolution of advisor tech, the impact of AI on operations, and how it can enhance client interactions. Alison warns about potential risks of losing various training opportunities due to automation yet advocates for using AI insights to improve training. Ultimately, she believes future success lies with firms centered around client relationships.
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Back-Office Automation Drives Advisor Value
- Automation of back-office operations unlocked massive advisor efficiency and faster client turnaround.
- That shift let advisors focus on high-value wealth and life-goal conversations with clients.
Built Schwab's Intelligent Portfolios
- Alison helped build Schwab Intelligent Portfolios and saw robo-advisor tech evolve inside the firm.
- She says robo investments mainly enabled scale via faster onboarding and portfolio creation, not by replacing RIAs.
AI Went From Novel To Norm Fast
- AI adoption exploded from new to norm within a year across advisor practices.
- Schwab focuses AI efforts on surfacing relevant, nuanced knowledge quickly for advisors.