➡️ More than a third (36%) of investors say social media is a top source for financial news
➡️ Though more than half (53%) of respondents report using generative AI for financial purposes at least once a month
➡️ 30% said they trust AI to give them financial advice
➡️ 26% would let AI manage their investments
More details:
Helcio thank you for sharing this interesting survey. The principal 5 conclusions from the Survey are:
Heightened Market Anxiety, But Stronger Planning Control: Overall investor optimism dropped from 60% to 48%, reflecting concerns about inflation (58%), political volatility (41%), and recession risks (41%). Yet, investors are increasingly seeking agency—taking active control of their financial plans.
Young & Tech‑Savvy Investors Are More Confident: Gen Z (67%) and Millennials (53%) maintain greater confidence than older generations. Their longer time horizons and native fluency with digital tools seem to act as a buffer during market turbulence .
Digital Platforms Enhance Outcomes: Users of investment apps and digital tools report 20% more portfolio gains and 23% more confidence in retirement strategy. They are also more proactive with tax-efficient investing—66% optimize for tax impact versus only 32% among non‑users.
Hybrid Advice Model Favored: Rather than replacing advisors, technology is complementing them. Investors who use digital tools are nearly twice as likely to also have human advisors (62% vs. 34%), indicating a preference for tech + human expertise synergy.
AI Usage Rising, But Trust Lags Behind: About 53% of respondents say they use AI for financial advice monthly, including 38% weekly, but only 30% trust AI. Just 25% would let AI manage their investments directly. Many use tools like ChatGPT to double‑check advisor recommendations.
These conclusions imply:
Control and Confidence via Technology: Investors—especially younger ones—feel empowered by digital tools, which help them take charge and act with greater confidence during volatility.
AI as a Supplement, Not a Replacement: While AI is increasingly used for advice generation or verification, trust remains limited. Many users prefer an AI-assisted approach rather than an AI-led one.
Preference for Human-AI Hybrid Advisory Models: The most effective advice model appears to involve AI-generated insights enhanced by human judgment, aligning with survey evidence showing desirability of dual engagement.
In an era defined by market turbulence and financial uncertainty, AI is emerging as a powerful supportive tool—not as a full substitute for human advisors. The most effective advisory model is likely a hybrid approach, where:
AI handles routine analysis, portfolio recommendations, tax optimization, and scenario generation—offering efficiency, scalability, and data‑driven insights.
Human advisors remain essential for interpreting nuanced, personalized context, applying fiduciary judgment, and providing emotional reassurance and strategic guidance.
The key pillars of this hybrid model are:
Explainability & Transparency: AI systems must clearly communicate reasoning behind recommendations to build trust (e.g. accuracy metrics, feature contributions).
Human Oversight (“Last Mile”): Final review or approval by a certified advisor enhances adoption and trust even when AI advice quality is similar.
Bias Mitigation Measures: Firms need mechanisms to identify and adjust for AI’s product or recommendation bias.
Emotional Trust & Personalization: Incorporating empathetic communication and advisor branding into AI interactions helps align user satisfaction with advice quality.