Introducing Intelligent Luxury: REALM Founder Julie Faupel and Asha Saxena Co-Author New White Paper on AI and the Future of Luxury Real Estate Excellence

"The data may say 'yes,' but a client's silence says 'not yet.' That's the difference only we can hear."

PAUL BENSON
Co-founder and CEO of Engel & Völkers Gestalt Group

How We Got Here

I founded REALM Global to create a community for the advisors serving UHNW clients at the highest level. Over the years, we've watched our industry navigate seismic shifts—the 2008 financial crisis, the rise of digital and social media marketing, the pandemic's transformation of lifestyle priorities. Each wave slowly eroding trust and truth.

But this moment feels different.

Asha saw it in her research on AI and human flourishing. I saw it in late-night conversations with REALM members, in the pauses between a client's words, in the questions advisors were afraid to ask out loud. Technology is forcing us to confront what luxury actually means—and what role human judgment plays in it.

The Paradox We Discovered

While the industry debates automation, something quieter is happening. The most sophisticated advisors aren't fighting AI. They're discovering it clarifies their value.

As AI becomes more capable at processing information, human wisdom becomes exponentially more precious. As technology handles data, the ability to understand meaning—to interpret silence, to honor legacy, to see what algorithms can't measure—becomes the defining advantage.

One of our Founding Members, Paul Benson, co-founder and CEO of Engel & Völkers Gestalt Group said it perfectly: "The data may say 'yes,' but a client's silence says 'not yet.' That's the difference only we can hear."

This is what Asha and I explore: the art of using technology to create more space for presence, more capacity for discernment, more depth in the relationships that matter most.

Consider this: 72% of UHNW clients now choose advisors who understand their lifestyle and legacy—not just their listing requirements. They're not looking for faster transactions. They're looking for someone who sees what the spreadsheet doesn't.

What's Inside

The paper maps five territories where AI and human judgment converge:

• Legacy stewardship across generations. Technology can track family narratives and surface patterns across decades. Only you can interpret what those patterns mean for what comes next.
• Psychographic alignment over demographic matching. AI can map the terrain of values and unspoken priorities. Advisors must be the ones who navigate it.
• Emotional intelligence as competitive advantage. When everyone has access to the same information, the ability to understand what isn't being said becomes everything.
• Preserving what can't be replicated. AI becomes a tool for protecting the irreplaceable—the artisan traditions, architectural significance, cultural heritage that define true luxury.
• Human-AI collaboration that deepens trust. The future belongs to advisors who use technology not to replace presence, but to make room for more of it.

The Question That Matters

The question isn't whether AI changes luxury advisory.

The question is: How will you use this moment to deepen what you do best?

I'm grateful to Asha for her partnership, to the REALM members who shared their stories, and to everyone who believes the future should be more thoughtful, not just faster.

— Julie Faupel
Founder & CEO, REALM Global