My mum used to be a stock broker at a time when buying and selling stock till needed a middleman.

Recently caught up with one of her colleagues and asked if she was very free since most people today could trade online.

She said: "The opposite, I am more busy than ever! Instead of just executing trades, now I am analyzing my customer trades in real time. Now that we have the digital platform, I can collect data to further advise my high network clients. Through digitalization, I can now also service 10 times more clients.

I am earning now more money consulting them and providing portfolio management advice than from their trade commissions"

Similarly, real estate brokers will always have a future. The number will get smaller but the survivors will get richer.