Consumers Want AI to Support, Not Replace, Financial Advisors

While Americans have embraced artificial intelligence in their everyday lives, they draw a distinction about how much they are willing to do with AI when their finances are involved, according to findings released today by AI-native financial guidance platform Addition Wealth.

“People will turn to a platform and leverage AI for a lot of their financial questions, but often choose to connect with a financial advisor when they want greater confidence around more consequential decisions.”

Addition Wealth’s Ana Mahony

The 2026 Future of Advice Survey: AI and Financial Guidance, a nationwide survey of 1,000 adults, found that nearly three-quarters (74%) of Americans use AI regularly or occasionally in daily life, but only 21% use AI as a primary source for financial decisions. Only 14% fully trust it for financial guidance while 24% say they don’t trust AI for financial decisions at all. One-third (33%) said they use AI occasionally as a secondary resource.

“Consumers are increasingly comfortable with AI helping them navigate financial decisions, but they continue to place a premium on human judgment, oversight, and accountability when money is on the line,” said Ana Mahony, founder and CEO of Addition Wealth. “People will turn to a platform and leverage AI for a lot of their financial questions, but often choose to connect with a financial advisor when they want greater confidence around more consequential decisions.”

Nearly three-quarters (72%) of those surveyed said they want a human leading or actively involved when they’re receiving financial guidance, and only 5% prefer guidance that is fully AI-driven.

When asked what would increase trust in AI for financial decisions, respondents ranked human oversight first (42%), slightly ahead of privacy and data protections (37%), transparency around how decisions are made (36%), backing from a trusted financial institution (30%), proven accuracy (28%), and personalized recommendations (27%).

That preference is also reflected in how Americans want financial decisions supported. Nearly four in 10 (39%) prefer human-led financial guidance supported by AI, while another 33% want guidance exclusively from a person. Just 14% are comfortable with AI-led guidance with optional human support, and only 5% prefer guidance that is fully AI-driven. Taken together, nearly three-quarters (72%) want a human leading or actively involved when making financial decisions.

Age strongest predictor of AI trust

The research found the age of the person emerged as the strongest predictor of AI trust for financial decisions, while trust levels remained consistent across income brackets.

Adults ages 18 to 34 fully trust AI at more than five times the rate of adults 55 to 64 (21% vs. 4%) and use AI regularly for financial decisions at nearly three times the rate (29% vs. 10%). Nearly half (48%) of adults 55 to 64 say they want financial guidance exclusively from a person, compared with 28% of younger adults.

The survey also found meaningful differences by gender. Men fully trust AI for financial decisions at nearly twice the rate of women (18% vs. 10%), while women are 73% more likely than men to say they do not trust AI for financial decisions at all.

One notable finding: income did not meaningfully influence trust. While overall AI adoption increased with income, the percentage of respondents who fully trust AI for financial decisions remained consistent across income brackets: 12% among those earning under $50,000, 16% among those earning $50,000-$100,000, and 17% among those earning more than $100,000 annually.

The complete findings from the 2026 Future of Advice Survey: AI and Financial Guidance, including additional charts, and methodology, is available here.

Consumers Want AI to Support, Not Replace, Financial Advisors

Tags: