Broadridge AI project in Ireland to simplify disclosures

Broadridge is developing an artificial intelligence project in Ireland to simplify financial disclosures for retail investors, with support from IDA Ireland.

The project will examine how AI can rewrite complex fund documents in plain English while preserving regulatory accuracy. It is intended to help Irish savers better understand investment products and make informed decisions.

Ireland has a large funds industry, with more than €5 trillion in fund assets, but retail participation remains limited. Broadridge linked that gap partly to dense, technical disclosures that many consumers struggle to understand.

European Commission survey data cited by Broadridge shows that only 18% of EU citizens demonstrate high financial literacy. Its analysis of disclosures from the 50 largest UK asset managers also found that nearly half were written at an academic level that would be difficult for many retail investors to follow.

Literacy gap

The initiative sits at the intersection of investor education and financial regulation. It aligns with the European Commission's Financial Literacy Strategy and with regulatory efforts, including the UK Financial Conduct Authority's Consumer Composite Investment framework, which seeks simpler disclosures for consumers.

The Dublin-based project also reflects Ireland's role in cross-border funds and exchange-traded funds in Europe. That prominence has not translated into widespread direct household participation, even as large sums remain in savings deposits.

Broadridge estimates that around €14 trillion is held in household savings accounts across Europe. It argues that inflation has eroded purchasing power at a time when many savers lack confidence in how to allocate money to longer-term investments.

Denis Curran, Head of International Financial Services, Emerging Business and Engineering & Green Economy at IDA Ireland, welcomed the move.

"Ireland is a leading international centre for innovation in financial technology," Curran said. "We are delighted to support Broadridge in its mission to enhance financial literacy through the power of artificial intelligence. I wish the team at Broadridge every success with this innovative project."

Regulatory focus

Broadridge has an established presence in Dublin, where it supports clients across Ireland's financial services sector. The local team works with asset managers and fund administrators on regulatory requirements, including PRIIPs, MiFID, Solvency II and UK-EU rules.

That regulatory base is likely to be central to the study, as simpler consumer language in investment documents must still reflect legal and technical requirements. The goal is to improve clarity without compromising compliance.

Stephen Johnston, Senior Country Officer for Ireland at Broadridge, said the work could address a longstanding barrier between consumers and investment markets.

"This partnership with IDA Ireland positions Broadridge at the centre of a national initiative to leverage technology to make sophisticated investment products genuinely accessible to retail investors," Johnston said.

"We've analysed investment disclosures from the 50 largest UK asset managers and found that nearly half were written at an academic level that would be difficult for most retail investors to understand. Across Europe, around €14 trillion sits in household savings accounts. At a time when purchasing power is eroding due to inflation, too many of these savers lack clarity and confidence in how best to realise their investment potential. By applying AI to create plain-language communications while maintaining regulatory compliance and accuracy, we can measurably boost engagement and help move Irish savers from deposit accounts into long-term investments that can support their financial futures."

Findings from the project will be shared with industry stakeholders and regulators as part of a wider effort to shape best practice in simplified disclosure. The study adds to a broader debate in European finance over whether clearer documents could improve trust and increase participation among retail investors.

Broadridge employs more than 15,000 people across 21 countries. Its systems process more than 7 billion communications each year and support average daily trading of more than USD $15 trillion in equities, fixed income and other securities globally.