The first fortnightly run: 78% of US financial-services leaders expect a workforce at least 20% smaller within five years while 91% raise pay for AI-skilled staff; US financial-activities employment falls to a four-year low, though the reporting blames interest rates, not AI; Bank of America and Citi report AI adoption at scale with no headcount attached; and Mariner adds 700 AI “FTEs” while growing its adviser count toward 5,000. Across every item, the count of who is actual