15 Intent Signals for Fintech Marketers And How Agentic AI Automates Them

In a recent edition of the CMO Blueprint newsletter, we explored the power of intent data and why it’s become a must-have in modern B2B marketing. To recap: intent signals aren’t just nice to have—they’re the line between outbound campaigns that convert and ones that vanish into the void.

Think of it this way: an intent signal is like your prospect raising their hand (subtly, but clearly) to say, “I’m paying attention.” And depending on how strong that signal is, it might just be your cue to strike up a very timely conversation—or even move in for the close. When used correctly, intent data tells you who’s ready to listen… and who’s already in buying mode.

But here’s the big question: how do you actually implement a strategy around intent signals that drives results?

That’s where Agentic AI comes in.

Why Agentic AI Is a Game-Changer for Intent Strategies

Agentic AI is unlocking a level of intelligence and speed we could only dream of a few years ago. We’re no longer limited to reactive playbooks or rule-based automation. With AI agents that can scrape, analyze, enrich, and act on intent data in near real-time, B2B marketers finally have a system that thinks strategically at scale.

Even better? You don’t need a PhD in data science or a 20-person ops team to pull it off.

With the right tools and a lean, cross-functional team (think: one savvy marketer, one technical stakeholder), it’s possible to implement an Agentic intent engine in weeks, not quarters.

What We’ll Cover Today

Let’s break down a few intent signals that are working particularly well in the finance sector, based on results we’ve seen across evolveIQ clients.

We’re not just talking about someone visiting your homepage once. We’re talking about real-world buying signals—the kind that help you cut through the noise and prioritize leads that matter.

Let’s get into it!

📈 Investment Activity & Portfolio Shifts

13F Filings (Institutional Holdings)

• Source: SEC EDGAR (free with Agentic AI workflows), WhaleWisdom, BamSEC, or AlphaSense.

• Details: Institutional investment managers with over $100M in assets must file quarterly Form 13F, disclosing equity holdings.

• Why it matters: If a hedge fund suddenly increases exposure to sectors like ESG, crypto, or private credit, it’s a signal they may need specialized data, portfolio management, or compliance tools. It could also reveal interest in emerging markets, prompting investment in risk or analytics platforms.

Form D Filings (Private Fundraising Events)

• Source: SEC EDGAR Form D Search can save you money if you do it through Agentic AI, Crunchbase, PitchBook.

• Details: Used when a company raises capital in a private offering exempt from registration. Includes fund type, size, and target raise.

• Why it matters: New fundraising means fresh capital and LPs, prompting needs for fund admin software, investor reporting tools, CRMs, or compliance solutions. Especially valuable when tracking PE, VC, and hedge funds.

Schedule 13D/G (Ownership & Activist Activity)

• Source: SEC EDGAR can save you money if you do it through Agentic AI, AlphaSense, or public data feeds.

• Details:

  • 13D: Must be filed within 10 days of acquiring 5%+ of a public company with activist intent.

  • 13G: Filed by passive investors with 5%+ holdings.

• Why it matters: Activist stakes can lead to governance shakeups, investor relations upgrades, or increased compliance risk. These firms often need shareholder engagement platforms, proxy voting tools, or comms infrastructure.

Form PF Updates (Private Fund Systemic Risk Reports)

• Source: SEC (private, but trends/statistics available), or indirectly via compliance vendors and industry news.

• Details: Private funds (e.g., hedge funds, PE) over certain thresholds must file Form PF to report on assets, risk, and strategies.

• Why it matters: Indicates growing fund complexity and size — a clear trigger for tools that support systemic risk monitoring, regulatory reporting, and audit-readiness. Often a proxy signal for firms maturing operationally.

Private Equity Exits

• Source: PitchBook, Crunchbase, Mergermarket, Preqin, PEHub.

• Details: When a PE firm sells a portfolio company via IPO, acquisition, or recap, they often redeploy capital quickly.

• Why it matters: These firms are flush with liquidity and under pressure to reinvest. Ideal moment to pitch fintech infrastructure tools for deal sourcing, compliance, or valuation modeling.

New ETF or Fund Launches

• Source: SEC filings (N-1A, N-2), press releases, ETF.com, Morningstar, or fund prospectuses.

• Details: Fund launches require tech stack for administration, compliance, data acquisition, performance tracking, and marketing.

• Why it matters: Launches signal strategic initiatives and fresh investment focus — triggers for analytics tools, fund admin software, or regtech platforms. Particularly strong for niche ETFs (e.g. ESG, thematic).

💸 Compliance, Risk & Reporting Triggers

SEC Enforcement Actions

• Source: SEC Enforcement News, search by firm name.

• Details: Penalties can range from misstatements to failure in internal controls.

• Why it matters: Firms facing enforcement often reassess their internal systems. This is a high-intent moment to offer solutions for compliance, audit trails, risk modeling, or reporting.

New Regulation Rollouts

• Source: SEC, CFTC, FINRA, EBA, ESMA, and law firms’ newsletters (e.g. White & Case, Sidley).

• Details: Rules like SEC’s Climate Risk Disclosure or EU’s MiFID II introduce new reporting obligations.

• Why it matters: Affected entities need ESG data, taxonomy mapping, regulatory reporting, and dashboards. Particularly valuable for ESG or regtech vendors.

AML/FinCEN Updates

• Source: FinCEN Notices, industry newsletters, public consultations.

• Details: FinCEN frequently issues new AML priorities, reporting thresholds, or KYC guidance.

• Why it matters: Any institution touching money movement may need to update monitoring, screening, and case management tools. Useful signal for KYC vendors or transaction analytics.

Basel III Implementation Timelines

• Source: BIS updates, industry news (e.g. Risk.net), bank regulatory disclosures.

• Details: Basel III phases require banks to improve capital risk models, liquidity buffers, and transparency.

• Why it matters: Banks and large lenders need robust stress-testing, risk modeling, and capital adequacy tools. Important for fintechs in regtech, modeling, or credit analytics.

FR Y-9 / FFIEC Reports

• Source: Federal Reserve National Information Center, FFIEC Call Reports.

• Details: Mandatory reports by US BHCs and holding companies. Includes financials, risk exposures, and asset levels.

• Why it matters: Surpassing reporting thresholds implies growth and potential systemically important status. Indicates the need for tooling across audit, risk, compliance, and internal data infrastructure.

🧠 Hiring & Job Postings

Hiring for Risk, Compliance, or Data Analysts

• Source: LinkedIn, Indeed, Greenhouse, Lever, Workable.

• Details: Growing analyst teams signal a scaling internal capacity to process more complex data or regulation.

• Why it matters: Firms investing in these roles often seek automation, centralized data environments, or better analytics platforms to support new hires.

Head of Digital Assets / ESG / AI

• Source: LinkedIn job titles, company press releases.

• Details: C-level or VP hires in emerging themes (e.g. ESG, AI) show strategic intent.

• Why it matters: Great moment to pitch tools that align with their newly prioritized area. These executives are often looking to make their mark with fast wins.

Hiring for GTM Roles in New Markets

• Source: Job boards, LinkedIn updates, press releases.

• Details: Look for sales, partnerships, or marketing roles tagged to a new region.

• Why it matters: Signals market expansion, readiness for outbound sales, and scaling of infrastructure. Strong signal for CRM, sales enablement, or market data tools.

📍Market Expansion or Entry

Registering New Entities in Foreign Countries

• Source:

  • UK: Companies House

  • EU: EU Business Registries

  • US: State business registries (e.g., Delaware, NY)

• Details: Entity registration is usually a legal precursor to hiring, fundraising, or marketing in a new country.

• Why it matters: Entry into new jurisdictions triggers cross-border compliance, AML, tax reporting, and local payroll needs. Strong trigger for global fintech vendors.

Hope this list sparked some ideas, or at the very least, showed just how expansive the possibilities are when you bring Agentic AI into the mix. Even if the exact signals we covered don’t apply to your business, the framework can be adapted across countless marketing and sales workflows. Intent is just the beginning. With Agentic AI, the only real limit is your imagination.

As always, if you’re looking to bring these ideas to life, we’re here to help. Reach out to the team at evolveIQ to talk about building your custom intent engine, and happy signaling! 🚀