The Canuck Episode: Jason Pereira and Ken Lotocki on AI Adoption

In this “Canuck episode” of AI for Advisors, Mark Heynen and James Cantwell are joined by Jason Pereira and Ken Lotocki for a distinctly Canadian perspective on AI in wealth management. From adoption and compliance to planning software and product design, they explain why the conversation north of the border is different — and where US firms may be getting distracted by hype.Jason brings the skeptical operator’s lens, arguing that most AI failures come from broken implementation, not broken technology. Ken brings the builder’s perspective from Conquest, sharing how auditable planning engines, next-best-action systems, and practical AI workflows are shaping adoption across Canada, the US, and the UK.Together, they unpack where AI is real, where it is table stakes, and where the industry is still fooling itself.00:00 – Jar Jar, Star Wars, and the Machete cut (IYKYK)03:55 – The Canadian Perspective on AI Adoption06:40 – Why Most WealthTech AI Still Fails10:40 – What Conquest Is Building Beyond LLM Hype18:55 – Why “Next Best Action” Changes Planning25:00 – MCP, Ask Sam, and Open Planning Systems32:10 – Selling AI in Canada vs. the US vs. the UK39:00 – Is Canada Really Ahead on AI Adoption?45:15 – Privacy, Governance, and Compliance North of the Border46:25 – The Big Nevis Raise and Silicon Valley in WealthTech52:05 – Most Overhyped and Underhyped AI Use Cases58:10 – Why Nobody Wants to Build a CRM59:05 – Canada vs. America: Productivity and Hockey(NB: Recorded before the Olympics — Canadian pride remains intact.)Learn more about Jason Pereira | WoodgateWebsite: ⁠https://jasonpereira.ca⁠LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonpereira⁠Learn more about Ken Lotocki | Conquest PlanningWebsite: ⁠https://www.conquestplanning.com⁠LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ken-lotocki⁠Learn more about Mark Heynen | James Cantwell | AI for Advisors PodcastLinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/markheynen⁠Website: ⁠https://www.knapsack.ai/⁠LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamescantwell⁠Website: ⁠https://www.wealthtechselect.com⁠YouTube: ⁠http://www.youtube.com/@AIforAdvisorsPodcast⁠