Advice Guru launches unique AI-powered business planning tool for financial advisers

13 January 2026

The new tool - Business Guru - has been developed to address an identified gap in adviser planning and strategy
Following a successful pilot phase with a group of later life advisers, Business Guru is now being made available to advisers across the market
The launch is being sponsored and supported by major later life lending brands including Aviva, more2life and Pure Retirement

Award-winning adviser support platform Advice Guru has announced the launch of its latest AI-powered innovation, ‘Business Guru’. The new tool, part of the company’s ‘Guru Growth System’, provides a powerful, intuitive and collaborative platform for advisers to develop business strategy and planning documents.

Built to address a long-standing gap in adviser support, Business Guru enables advisers to create a practical, structured business plan from scratch, regardless of firm size or business maturity. The tool guides users through up to 59 targeted questions, covering key areas of an advice business, helping advisers assess their current position, prioritise activity and track progress against clearly defined growth goals.

Unlike traditional static business planning templates, Business Guru uses AI to adapt the experience based on an adviser’s responses. This allows the tool to surface relevant considerations, highlight gaps, and support more informed decision-making around business development, marketing, capability and long-term sustainability.

Company founder Stuart Powell said:

“Our own research with members and the wider advice community showed us that at least 60% of advisers don’t have a current, active business plan. Many advisers know they should have a plan, but struggle to turn that intention into something practical. Business Guru is designed to remove that barrier by guiding advisers through the process step by step, using AI to keep it focused, relevant and usable.”

Business Guru has been designed with smaller firms and sole traders in mind, many of whom operate without formal business plans due to time constraints, lack of resources or lack of confidence in where to start. By breaking the process into manageable, structured questions, the tool aims to make business planning more accessible, practical and actionable.

Following a successful pilot with a group of later life advisers, the tool is being launched at dedicated ‘Fast Start 2026’ events in January, supported and sponsored by later life lending brands including Aviva, more2life and Pure Retirement, with the Business Development Managers and support teams of those lenders also helping to engage with advisers through Business Guru.

Kay Westgarth, Head of Retirement Distribution, Aviva, said:

“Older borrowers need skilled, well-informed later-life lending advisers now more than ever. This is an ideal moment for advisers to refresh and energise their business plans and we’re delighted to collaborate with all the partners driving this forward. Together, we can build a stronger later-life lending market that delivers outstanding outcomes for customers.”

Dave Harris, CEO of more2life, commented:

“We’re delighted to co-sponsor Business Guru, and the pilot phase has already shown how powerful it can be. Later life lending is evolving quickly and expectations are rising. Advisers are central to this market, yet many still do not have a formal business plan.

“Business Guru makes planning practical. It guides advisers through a structured process and produces a clear, personalised plan for the year ahead. At more2life, we have seen how innovation and technology can open up new opportunities. We are confident the advice community will welcome the support Business Guru provides in 2026.”

Scott Burman, Head of Distribution, Pure Retirement, added:

“We’re proud to be standing behind Advice Guru’s mission, further underlining the commitment we have to helping advisers that is currently seen through our Marketing Toolkit. At a time when housing equity is perceived as an important part of retirement planning, helping advisers to leverage resources and technology to drive sustainable market growth is paramount, and we’re pleased to have the opportunity to support this important initiative, offering advisers the tools to enhance their business development for 2026.”

Advisers working with BDMs from the three main sponsoring lenders can gain access to the entry level (Bronze) of Business Guru at a special introductory rate, saving over £200 on the annual fee, and will also receive a free listing on Advice Guru’s adviser directory as well as lifetime access to the company’s educational platform.