Raymond James Financial Inc. is intensifying its commitment to artificial intelligence with the launch of an AI Academy for its advisor network, announced this week at the firm's Elevate conference. The program, part of the company's Tech Savvy education initiative, will provide virtual training and workshops starting this month. Topics include AI prompting, agent productivity, and integrations with Microsoft 365, as well as training on Raymond James' proprietary AI tools, according to a company statement.
CEO Paul Shoukry has identified AI as a strategic priority to address the industry's talent shortage, a theme he emphasized during the firm's institutional investor conference earlier this year. During the second-quarter earnings call last month, Shoukry detailed the rollout of Rai, the company's new AI operations agent, which is being refined through focus groups. The AI Academy aims to equip advisors with practical skills to leverage these technologies.
Raymond James is not alone in its AI push. At Osaic's 2026 NXT conference in Boston last week, CEO Jamie Price reported that two of Osaic's AI tools have achieved the fastest adoption rates ever among its network of broker-dealers and RIAs. Franklin Templeton has also been fostering internal AI talent through hackathons and AI champions, as previously reported.
Stifel Financial Corp. CEO Ron Kruszewski, while cautioning that AI will not replace human judgment, acknowledged its productivity benefits. “I believe, at least on the advisor side, that [AI] will make our advisors more productive. It will unearth, potentially, more opportunities, more ideas, more things on tax savings, more on estate, more things that will help our advisors do what they do,” Kruszewski said during Stifel's first-quarter earnings call last month. He described AI as a tailwind for advice, not a headwind.
In addition to the AI Academy, Raymond James launched Client 360 at Elevate. This tool consolidates key client insights into a single view within the firm's Client Center, a centralized hub for client and account information. The portal surfaces relationship-level data such as account details, recent activity, alerts, CRM interactions, and client milestones, enabling advisors to access insights faster and work more efficiently, the company said. Client 360 is integrated with Raymond James' Opportunities app for financial advisors.
“These enhancements are about putting practical innovation in the hands of advisors,” said Andy Zolper, Raymond James' chief information officer, in the statement. “By simplifying access to insights and expanding technology education, we’re helping advisors work more efficiently and deliver even more personalized service as they deepen client relationships.”
The moves come amid a competitive landscape where firms like Wells Fargo has launched an AI-enhanced advisor gateway, and Raymond James itself has expanded its AI tool to hundreds of advisors. Meanwhile, LPL and Osaic recently captured a $1.4B advisor team from Raymond James, highlighting the ongoing battle for talent and assets.
Raymond James' latest initiatives underscore a broader industry trend: advisors are increasingly expected to master digital tools to enhance client service and operational efficiency. The AI Academy and Client 360 represent concrete steps to embed technology into daily workflows, potentially giving the firm an edge in advisor recruitment and retention.
