How AI Is Changing the Financial Advisor Landscape

Artificial intelligence is no longer a future concept in financial advice; it’s already changing how advisors work every day. A May 2026 Edward Jones survey found that 82% of advisors are using AI in their practice in some capacity, and 69% say AI has had a positive impact on the industry. From streamlining research to automating time-consuming tasks, AI is reshaping the behind-the-scenes operations of advisory firms. Understanding how these tools are being used can help advisors adapt, stay competitive and refocus their time on what matters most: clients. ¹

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How Advisors Use AI

Overwhelmingly, advisors who use AI deploy these tools to handle administrative tasks. Here’s a snapshot of AI use-cases among advisors and others in the financial services industry, according to data from the 2025 Fidelity Wealth Management Pulse Survey: ²

In the Edward Jones survey, 53% of advisors reported using AI to draft client emails and follow-up messages, which are essential for continuing the conversation with prospects. Meanwhile, 59% said they used AI for tasks like scheduling, calendar management and client meeting preparation.

The picture is clear: advisors are using AI to lessen their administrative burden and free up more time for serving clients.

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How Advisors View AI

AI’s relative novelty has some advisors feeling cautious, and has triggered discussions about whether AI will replace human advisors altogether. While some wariness is natural, many advisors take a positive view of the technology and its future in the financial services space.

For example, here’s how advisors and other wealth management professionals view the benefits of AI, according to the Fidelity data:

According to Fidelity, more than two-thirds of advisors who use AI at scale save at least one hour per week and 9% save five to 10 hours per week.

That doesn’t mean that all advisors are on board, however. In the Fidelity survey, 13% of advisors reported no adoption at all. As to the reasons for hesitation, 44% cited a lack of internal expertise while 38% expressed concerns surrounding privacy and security.

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AI and Robo-Advisor Competition

Robo-advisors have gained popularity, thanks in part to AI’s expansion, with services such as Betterment and Wealthfront grabbing the attention of investors. In terms of the advantages, robo-advisors generally offer a series of portfolios built and balanced by an algorithm. Those portfolios are relatively standard fund-based products, organized around specific goals or market segments. The main difference is that the system does most of the management, rather than an individual, so investors pay lower management fees.

These platforms can also offer individual financial advice for investors. Generally, when you create an account, the system will ask questions about your needs, assets and goals. This will help make tailored financial recommendations based on the service’s various portfolios.

Advisors may face increased competition from AI-powered robo-advisors in the future, as computers get better at learning and listening. They may naturally get better at helping investors pick the right portfolios. However, advisors are acknowledging this possibility and planning for it.

In the Edward Jones survey, for instance, 68% of advisors said building and maintaining client trust still requires a human touch. As a result, they’re exploring ways to use AI to meet client needs, without decentering themselves in the conversation.

Investors, meanwhile, are growing more comfortable with AI, but they’re not ready to give up their human advisors entirely. A June 2026 survey of 10,000 affluent and high-net-worth investors commissioned by HSBC found that while 73% use AI for financial planning and investment decisions, 62% say financial professionals and institutions are still their main source of advice and information. ³

AI and Financial Planning

Financial decisions are a critical part of a client’s life. They are how someone prepares for retirement, a home purchase, college expenses or a family trip. While investors may use AI to get answers to financial planning questions, these tools cannot replace the expertise and insight that human advisors bring to the table.

So, how can financial advisors use AI to streamline their practice and improve services? Any given financial practice has many steps that surround the actual process of making plans and giving advice, and artificial intelligence systems will be very useful for making that quicker and more accessible. Advisors will be able to use AI to expedite the intake of client information during interviews.

Once a financial advisor has created a plan with their clients, an AI may be able to recommend a specific portfolio to match those goals. An AI system can help monitor a client’s portfolio based on a predetermined plan, balancing assets as the market changes without needing human intervention. If a client wants to check in on routine questions, an AI agent may be able to handle that level of customer service.

AI as a Research Tool

AI is reshaping how financial advisors conduct research and manage day-to-day tasks by dramatically increasing speed and efficiency. Tools powered by artificial intelligence can quickly analyze large volumes of market data, economic reports and client information, allowing advisors to surface insights that would otherwise take hours of manual work. This helps advisors stay informed without being overwhelmed by information.

From a lead generation perspective, AI’s data analysis capabilities can assist with lead scoring and prospecting. An AI tool can monitor prospect behavior across multiple channels to identify high-potential prospects, build composite profiles of their activity and find pathways to making an initial connection. Using AI tools alongside a tool like SmartAsset’s Advisor Marketing Platform (AMP) may help advisors cut down on the amount of time spent on prospecting and lead generation while fueling growth.

Keep in mind that while AI can enhance and acceleratae research and task management, it does not replace advisor judgment. Instead, it serves as a support layer that helps advisors work smarter and more efficiently. Firms that thoughtfully integrate AI into research and workflows are often better positioned to scale while maintaining a high-quality client experience. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Bottom Line

Artificial intelligence is growing into a mature technology. It will change the landscape for financial services considerably, helping advisors transform their practice and profession. It’s important to understand how it can help you and what its restrictions might be before taking advantage of AI to help you with your overall wealth-building.

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