I remember a few years back when I worked at another media business that we had a presentation from a senior bod about the exciting technological future awaiting the company.

Nutmeg, one of the best-known robo-advisers, has promoted chief financial and operating officer Neil Alexander to replace chief executive Martin Stead who is leaving early in 2020 to move overseas.

Until now Financial Planners have treated the threat from robo-advisers as a limited one - and they have been right to do so - but that attitude may need to change, according to a recent report.

Robo-advisers were selected as the preferred investment provider by 4% of the UK's mass affluent investors, a sharp increase on the 1.3% seen in 2018.