Stacey Body is the Co-Founder and CEO of Aventur, a UK-based financial wellbeing fintech company that combines AI-powered insights with human financial expertise.
As he leads Aventur’s mission to democratise access to quality financial guidance to make financial wellbeing accessible to everyone, he discusses the company’s mission to close the UK advice gap, the challenges of building trustworthy AI in a regulated environment, and plans to expand internationally to serve millions more customers.
Tell us more about your company and its offering
We’ve built a financial planning platform that makes professional-grade financial advice accessible to everyone. Our technology connects to what people already have, lets them set meaningful goals, and uses AI and machine learning to constantly forecast outcomes. Unlike traditional advice frozen in time, our system adapts as life changes – recalculating in the background and nudging users toward better decisions.
People call it a “financial co-pilot.” But unlike generic AI tools like ChatGPT, our system is built to bank-grade standards and designed for regulatory auditability. The LLM is just the interface – the real intelligence sits in robust calculation engines behind the scenes. We deliver the products and services people need to act instantly and monitor their progress over time.
What problem was your company set up to solve?
We’re solving a fundamental crisis of access. Regulation has pushed advice costs so high that firms now only serve clients with £250k or £500k to invest. Everyday people who need help most can’t access it anymore, with serious ramifications for financial wellbeing.
The advice model itself is also outdated. A 30-year-old doesn’t want a laborious fact-find and 50-page report to invest £20,000. And “robo advisers” are just digital savings apps that don’t help people understand their future. The result? More pots, more confusion, no clarity on whether they’ll achieve retirement, pay off the mortgage, or fund education.
We built our platform to create genuine financial inclusivity by helping people understand their future and take action and manage their financial journey independently.
Since launch, how has your company evolved?
We’ve evolved from solving consumer problems to also addressing institutional challenges. Every major bank has a long tail of legacy clients they can’t serve economically with human advisers. We’re now looking to work with major institutions to implement solutions for these customers.
The timing is perfect. With the FCA introducing Targeted Support this year, which bridges general guidance and full regulated advice, we’ve already built the technology for these use cases. We’ve also developed a powerful retirement engine for people with £50k–£100k pensions and ESG portfolios that let people invest according to their values.
What has been the biggest challenge to overcome?
Building AI-powered financial technology that earns trust in a regulated environment.
There’s a real threat of AI being built badly in fintech – unregulated, inconsistent systems that destroy trust. 56% of adults already use ChatGPT for financial advice, but it has no context about who they are or what they’re trying to achieve.
We’ve taken the opposite approach: bank-grade engineering, our own private LLMs, no data leaving our environment, and predictable, auditable outcomes. Our LLMs are private and trained in-house – we don’t send data to OpenAI. Balancing cutting-edge AI with bank-level security and regulatory compliance isn’t easy, but it’s essential.
What are your biggest achievements so far?
We’ve successfully engaged several Tier 1 UK financial institutions in ongoing discussions about deploying our technology. While we can’t list names publicly, the fact that major banks, pension providers, and wealth managers are actively exploring working with us validates our approach.
Beyond business metrics, we’re most proud of our impact on financial inclusion – serving people priced out of advice, and when people can see what they have and how they’re tracking, their financial wellbeing improves immediately.
How would you describe the culture of your company?
Our culture is client-centric and built around financial inclusion. We combine deep regulatory experience with state-of-the-art technology while never losing sight of the human element. AI handles the “IQ” side – calculations and modelling – but humans provide the “EQ” side: reassurance, emotional guidance, and help with big life decisions.
What’s in store for the future?
Our biggest impact will come through partnerships with institutions serving millions of customers. With the launch of Targeted Support, we’re positioned to help banks finally serve customers they can’t reach today – at scale and inclusively.
Once established in the UK, we’ll expand internationally – Australia, the US, and Europe all represent huge opportunities. We’re continuing to innovate with sophisticated ESG portfolios, expanded retirement planning, and solutions for diverse communities. Our vision is genuine financial wellbeing for everyone – clarity, reduced anxiety, and confident decision-making.
