Artificial intelligence is increasingly used for tasks such as holiday shopping, but can it be trusted to manage your finances? Experts looking ahead to 2026 have highlighted both the promise and pitfalls of relying on AI for financial planning.
Benefits include speed and personalisation, says Jonathan Vance of Vance Financial Planning. AI can provide tailored solutions quickly, and Samyr Laine of Freedom Trail Capital notes that AI makes financial education accessible to those who cannot afford a human advisor. Dr Erika Rasure of Beyond Finances adds that AI can help underserved communities overcome systemic barriers to financial literacy.
However, drawbacks remain. Vance warns that AI lacks the ability to ask follow-up questions necessary for a complete plan. Laine points out that AI has no context about family situations or career trajectories and cannot be held accountable for poor advice. Iliya Rybchin of Vorpal Hedge cautions that over-reliance on AI risks outdated recommendations if not cross-checked against real-world changes, and that AI lacks empathy during emotional events like market crashes.
The experts agree that AI should be a tool, not a replacement for human judgement. As Laine puts it, the best approach is to use AI to surface options and analysis, then apply human decision-making—ideally with a real advisor who understands the full picture.
