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BY ANA MAHONY, CEO OF ADDITION WEALTH

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There’s a shift happening right now. The combination of AI, intuitive design, and access to data is enabling us to finally deliver financial education that truly meets people where they are. Not just in theory. We’re seeing it in action. Historically, it would have taken hundreds of individual programs to reach everyone. Today, we can design one adaptive system that molds itself to the user, whether they’re in Nairobi or New York.

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For the past few years, at Addition Wealth, we’ve been working with individuals across all stages of life, backgrounds, income levels, and learning styles. What we’ve learned is simple yet powerful -  when you give someone the exact information they need, in the format they prefer, at the moment they’re ready for it, they move forward. They take action. They feel empowered.

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That’s where technology, especially AI, is changing the game. Instead of starting with a list of general best practices, we start with the individual. What are they navigating right now? What’s causing them stress or keeping them stuck? What information would help them take the next step, not just someday, but today?

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Experiences today have to be hyperpersonalized to provide real value. There’s so much financial content out there. People are overwhelmed and confused. It’s not about having access to information anymore - it’s about making that information relevant, timely, and easy to act on. That means removing the burden from the user. They shouldn’t have to provide, compare, calculate, and interpret. Our systems should do that work for them and present clear, useful answers.

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At Addition Wealth, we’ve seen it succeed within workplace settings, where employees of all ages, roles, and financial situations receive insights that reflect their unique circumstances. But there’s no reason this approach can’t be adapted to schools, retirement programs, or community centers. You can configure the same technology to meet the needs of a teenager just learning what money means, a parent trying to balance caregiving and saving, or a retiree making decisions about decumulation and long-term care. 

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The magic is in how the system is built. On the back end, we integrate a wide range of data, educational content, calculators, and tools. In the middle, we rely on human expertise and financial advisors to ensure accuracy, build trust, and form relationships. On the front end, we only show the user what’s relevant to them. It feels simple and helpful, but it’s rooted in real depth.

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Hyperpersonalization is especially powerful when we think globally and across different people in different life phases. Financial education and advice looks different depending on where you live, the language you speak, what social safety nets are available, what cultural norms you’ve learned, and what stage of life you're in. That’s why effective solutions rely on localization algorithms, language-specific content generation, and culturally aware UX design to adapt core guidance to each audience. 

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Configurable platforms that combine technology and human experts can support a user in moving from stress to clarity without delay. AI-driven data aggregation and behavioral analytics can help a human advisor show up better prepared and follow up more effectively. As a result, they can work with more people and provide them with value and insights from the moment they connect.  This is about using tech to scale access to good answers, good advisors, and good decisions. 

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Everyone deserves financial guidance that builds confidence (not shame) and helps them get the most from the money they work so hard to earn. Today, we have the tools, data, and expertise to make that possible for millions of people, at scale.

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The opportunity is here. Across sectors and around the world, we can design, test, and share solutions that show what “good” truly looks like in financial wellness. From empowering students to supporting caregivers to helping retirees thrive, the potential impact is enormous, and it is energizing to think about what it means for individuals. 

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