Robo advisors

Banks have warmed up to digital wealth management tools but will need to use their human advisers, too, to beat fintechs.

Wealthfront is the first of the tech-powered financial advisers to offer securities-based lending. It will compete with the likes of Wells Fargo and Morgan Stanley.

Access to banking information ensures advisors can perform holistic planning, fintech firms say.

The firm built a product to match the current moment, which is political, says CEO Hardeep Walia.

Andy Sieg says the firm's digital wealth and mobile app investments are "a key strategic story."

MarketRiders is the latest digital platform aimed at a specific minority investor community.

Wealthsimple is backed by the same investor, Power Financial, that last year injected $75 million into Personal Capital.

Banks are becoming more comfortable with robotic process automation and could use it overhaul everything from the payroll functions to advising customers.