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Financial Services Checklist

Is Your Firm AI‑Ready?

A 5‑Minute AI Governance Self‑Check

Score your firm across four dimensions: strategic alignment, data & infrastructure, governance & protection, and adoption, then see exactly where the gaps are before AI becomes part of your everyday workflows.

FormatInteractive Self‑Check
Time~5 minutes
Built forRegulated Financial Firms
Download PDF Version ↓ Save it, print it, or share it with your team

AI is moving quickly into financial services — while many firms are still figuring out what "ready" actually means.

The pressure to adopt AI is real. Teams want efficiency, and vendors promise transformation. But for regulated firms, accelerating adoption before guardrails are in place creates unnecessary risk.

Recent priorities from FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) highlight growing attention around governance, supervision, data handling, and operational risk as firms explore emerging technologies.

This means that when it comes to AI readiness, firms need to understand whether their data, policies, permissions, and oversight structures are prepared to support responsible use.

This checklist is designed to help you take a step back, assess where things stand today, and identify the gaps worth addressing before AI becomes part of your everyday workflows.

Self‑Check Topics

  • → Strategic Alignment
  • → Data & Infrastructure
  • → Governance & Protection
  • → Adoption & Change Management
  • Bonus — AI Readiness Prompt

How it works

For each question, choose the option that best reflects your current state. Your section and total scores update automatically below — showing where you're well positioned, and where additional governance or controls may be needed. There are no perfect scores here — the goal is to surface strengths, gaps, and discussion points.

Scoring Guide

2 pointsStrong foundation
1 pointPartial readiness
0 pointsNeeds attention
Not sure0 points, but a great discussion starter
6 points max

Strategic Alignment

Why this matters

AI success starts with a clear understanding of business goals, risk tolerance, and organizational readiness. This section helps assess whether leadership priorities, teams, and expectations are aligned around how AI should support the firm.

What your score tells you

A high score suggests shared direction and internal momentum. A lower score could mean your goals aren't clear or you have limited alignment across teams.

1. Where is the pressure to adopt AI tools coming from?

  • 2Org‑wide momentum
  • 1Department‑level demand / Leadership interest
  • 0No pressure yet
  • *Not sure

2. Have you identified business use cases where AI could deliver value?

  • 2Yes – confirmed with stakeholders
  • 1Drafted, not validated / Exploring ideas
  • 0Not yet
  • *Not sure what's been explored

3. If AI tools became broadly available across your firm tomorrow, would you feel confident supporting adoption?

  • 2Absolutely – ready to move forward
  • 1Ready for limited rollout / Need help planning
  • 0Not confident at all
  • *Not sure
Strategic Alignment Score0 / 6
6 points max

Data & Infrastructure

Why this matters

AI is only as effective as the data behind it. This section helps you understand how accessible, organized, and governed your information is — and whether your environment is prepared to support AI responsibly.

What your score tells you

A strong score suggests your data is accessible and structured for AI to deliver value. Lower scores may point to fragmented systems or unmanaged data sprawl.

4. Where is most of your day‑to‑day work data stored?

  • 2Primarily in centralized cloud platforms and shared work environments
  • 1Hybrid mix of cloud, internal systems, and departmental tools
  • 0Primarily on‑prem servers, disconnected platforms, or personal storage
  • *Not sure

5. Do you have documented data residency or sovereignty requirements?

  • 2Yes – clearly defined
  • 1Some awareness, not documented
  • 0No known requirements
  • *I don't know

6. Is there a process for managing outdated or inactive data?

  • 2Yes – automated cleanup by content or age
  • 1Yes – manual policies
  • 0No process
  • *Not sure
Data & Infrastructure Score0 / 6
8 points max

Governance & Protection

Why this matters

AI tools are powerful — but without the right guardrails, they can expose sensitive information in ways firms don't expect. This section looks at how well your policies, permissions, and protections support responsible AI use.

What your score tells you

Strong governance helps AI surface information safely and securely. A lower score here could mean you're at high risk for data exposure or compliance violations.

7. How confident are you that user permissions are structured and managed properly?

  • 2Very – permissions structured & reviewed regularly
  • 1Somewhat – basic structures exist, but aren't consistently reviewed
  • 0Not confident – permissions are inconsistent or unmanaged
  • *Not sure

8. Are you using data loss prevention (DLP) tools to prevent accidental sharing?

  • 2Yes – across both cloud and devices
  • 1Yes – partial coverage only
  • 0No DLP tools in place
  • *Not sure what's deployed

9. Can your team classify and label sensitive data?

  • 2Yes – automated labeling
  • 1Yes – manual labeling only
  • 0No classification tools
  • *Not sure

10. Are there controls in place to protect business‑critical data?

  • 2Yes – dynamic protections are in place
  • 1Manual restrictions only
  • 0No protections in place
  • *Not sure
Governance & Protection Score0 / 8
2 points max

Adoption & Change Management

Why this matters

Even the most capable AI tools deliver limited value if people aren't prepared to use them effectively. Adoption depends on clear expectations, training, and support across the firm.

What your score tells you

A high score suggests your teams are well prepared and ready to adopt AI. A lower score says your training, ownership, or change management planning still need attention.

11. Do you have a training or enablement plan for AI adoption?

  • 2Yes – enablement plan is ready
  • 1Some planning underway
  • 0No plan yet
  • *Not sure who owns this
Adoption & Change Score0 / 2

Your Totals

Strategic Alignment0 / 6
Data & Infrastructure0 / 6
Governance & Protection0 / 8
Adoption & Change Management0 / 2
Total Readiness Score0 / 22

*Don't overlook your "Not sure" answers. These can highlight areas where visibility, ownership, or governance may still need attention.

Interpreting Your Score

Now you've got a clearer picture of where your firm stands. Here's our take on what it means.

Total ScoreReadiness LevelWhat It Means
18–22AI‑ReadyYou have a strong foundation for AI adoption. Now it's about refining your roadmap and building on what's already in place.
12–17Getting CloseYou're headed in the right direction, but a few gaps may slow progress. Focused improvements can strengthen readiness and reduce risk.
0–11Needs WorkThere's room to improve — and that's where planning helps. Getting the basics right creates a stronger path for future AI adoption.
Complete the checklist above — your live readiness level will appear here: —

Ready to talk through next steps?

Whether you're exploring strategy or preparing for broader adoption, the team at Coretelligent can help address your firm's specific AI goals and governance requirements.

Download PDF Version ↓ Let's Connect →
Bonus · AI Readiness Prompt

Spark Your Own Readiness Conversation

Already using an AI assistant? Turn your self‑check responses into a shareable summary or prep notes for stakeholder discussions — auto‑filled from your answers above.

Step 1 — Complete the checklist Step 2 — Copy your personalized prompt 
Complete the checklist above to generate your personalized prompt.
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