Most South African financial advisers are already using generative artificial intelligence platforms in their practices. Cogence is taking AI further by embedding it into the advice process, while keeping the financial adviser firmly in control.

Cogence has launched new AI-powered advice technology for financial advisers that can turn client information, including statements, spreadsheets, screenshots and even photographs of handwritten notes, into a structured, client-ready investment proposal within minutes.

The technology brings together three factors that can profoundly affect retirement outcomes: investment risk, savings behaviour and a client’s health and life expectancy. Until now, these have typically been considered across separate tools, reports and conversations.

“AI has an important role to play in making advice more efficient, but our hope is to leverage it to a greater potential, helping advisers deliver better advice,” says Jonel Matthee-Ferreira, CEO and CIO of Cogence. “The adviser remains in control. The technology does the heavy lifting of capturing and analysing information, while the adviser applies the judgement, understands the client’s goals and ultimately makes the recommendation.”

From administration to advice

The launch comes as AI adoption accelerates across South Africa’s advice industry.

The 2026 Linktank Hadeda Advice Technology Survey found that 64% of of the 524 advice practices surveyed use AI in some form. Common applications include drafting client communications, research, summarising documents and transcribing meetings.

The 2026 NMG SA Retail Wealth Study similarly found that advisers want the platform of the future to be digital, AI-led and integrated.

Cogence’s technology moves AI further along the advice process.

“The opportunity is not to replace the adviser, but to strengthen the advice conversation,” says Jonel Matthee-Ferreira. “Sophisticated analysis becomes far more valuable when an adviser can translate it into something a client can see, understand and act on.”

Investment, behaviour and longevity in one view

Retirement outcomes are not determined by investment returns alone. They are also influenced by how consistently people save and, critically, how long they live.

Cogence’s technology brings these dimensions together.

It incorporates Discovery’s Vitality Healthy Futures data. Vitality Healthy Futures data provides additional health and longevity context, helping to inform how long a client’s retirement savings may need to last.

“Retirement income challenges are not caused by markets alone. They are also behavioural and can be compounded by underestimating how long we may live, or how material medical expenses may be” says Jonel Matthee-Ferreira. “Bringing these dimensions together gives advisers a richer basis for having long-term planning conversations with their clients.”

From a handwritten note to an investment proposal

The process begins with the information the client already has.

An adviser can upload an investment statement, quotation, spreadsheet, screenshot or photograph of a handwritten note. AI-assisted extraction captures and structures the information, for the adviser to check and confirm the inputs.

The adviser can then compare the client’s existing investment with a Cogence solution, interrogate the underlying portfolio analysis and customise the proposal. The proposal can also incorporate the adviser practice’s branding before being downloaded or sent to the client for digital acceptance.

At every stage, the adviser determines what goes into the proposal and remains responsible for interpreting the information and making the recommendation.

Technology that makes human judgement more valuable

The significance of AI in financial advice, says Jonel Matthee-Ferreira, is therefore not simply about automating work.

“AI is changing not just how advice is delivered, but how advice is valued,” she says. “As technology takes on more of the work involved in capturing, structuring and analysing information, the adviser’s judgement becomes even more important: understanding the person behind the numbers, navigating uncertainty, providing behavioural coaching, and turning information into decisions that can improve long-term financial outcomes.”

A demonstration of the Cogence technology is available here.