Padua chief touts data automation to reshape advice sector

Binaya Dahal

Journalist

25 March 2026

Advice platforms powered by data automation are set to transform Australia’s financial advice sector, says Matthew Esler, co-founder and chief executive of the advice fintech, Padua Solutions.

Delivering the keynote address at Financial Newswire’s Advice, Wealth and Super Conference in Sydney, Esler said 2026 would mark the “rise of the advice platform”, as firms shift towards component-based, API-first systems built on micro-services architecture.

He said such platforms would allow deeper integration with superannuation funds and investment platforms, helping create advice ecosystems more closely tied to member engagement.

“This enables greater integration, efficiency, engagement and compliance,” Esler said. “Using Padua’s advice portal, advice firms and licensees can have an average number of clients in excess of 300 clients which is at least double the current industry average.”

He also pointed to new engagement tools, including video-based statements of advice and records of advice, as well as video member updates for super funds and platforms.

“From an engagement perspective, new capabilities like video SOA and ROA for advisers and video member statements for platforms and super funds, which allow for pre-amble market commentary are driving competition among Padua’s existing and new platform clients,” Esler said.

From a compliance perspective, Esler claims financial advisers have never before been able to provide real-time pre-vet and post-vet audits of the advice they provide to their clients.

“That has become a reality with Padua’s release of their new Regulatory Advice File Audit system (RAFA) which enables advisers and licensees to affordably produce an ASIC-aligned, AFCA-aligned and incorporate their own licensee standards, for all advice produced, rather than a sample of advice files, as is currently the norm,” he said.