Artificial Intelligence (AI) is fast becoming a CEO’s closest confidante, according to the recent “AI Has a Seat in the C-Suite” survey.
The survey, which polled 300 C-level executives at U.S. companies with at least $1 billion in annual revenue, found that almost half of the executives would override a decision they’d already made based on AI insights.
Artificial intelligence is transforming the way leaders think, act, and interact with others. And their trusty AI companions are following them home, too – nearly three-quarters (74 percent) of execs place more confidence in AI for advice over their family and friends.
As corporate titans and captains of industry double-click on language models, how is the broader world of professional services handling this technological revolution? Leaders in wealth management and advisory services share how they are rapidly deploying AI to achieve greater impact within their firms.
Artificial Planning?
According to the survey, AI is already deeply entrenched in business operations, with 63 percent of surveyed executives using it daily.
Similar to corporate executives, AI is also experiencing rapid adoption in the financial planning industry. Advisor360°’s research reveals that an incredible 85% of advisors call generative AI a ‘help’ to their practice, up from just 64% last year. Meanwhile, three out of four respondents (76%) report enjoying immediate benefits from using AI-enabled tools.
“We lean on AI for the grunt work—automating repetitive tasks, transcribing meetings, and whipping up instant summaries—so I can spend more time with clients instead of glaring at spreadsheets,” says Joshua Mangoubi, Founder of Considerate Capital Wealth Management.
Joshua’s experience aligns with many of his counterparts. The Advisor360° poll found that advisors mostly use AI for more mundane rote work. They are less likely to harness it for their core work, with only 29% of respondents indicating that they leverage AI-enabled tools for developing actual financial plans for clients.
“We’re exploring how AI can help us scale our services, streamline internal tasks, and empower clients with smarter tools,” says Reggie Fairchild, CFP, of his advisory Flip Flops and Pearls. “We fiercely protect the human-centered, fiduciary advice we’re known for,” he goes on. “We’re having candid internal conversations, defining best practices, and testing AI solutions that elevate our impact without compromising trust.”
“I don’t let AI think for me. Instead, I use it to think with me,” says Russ Thornton, founder of Wealthcare for Women. “I use it more on my business than in my business.”
Trust Issues
As AI among financial advisors becomes more prevalent, it also gains traction among the general population, many of whom turn to it for tips on how to save or earn more money. With so many different topics to quiz the language model on, the line between “support tool” and “trusted guide” is becoming increasingly blurred.
Yet, despite this widespread adoption, a significant trust gap remains between clients and AI-driven tools. A 2024 study by Northwestern Mutual found that clients trust human advisors more than AI in various financial scenarios. This must be a consolation to advisors. Are they worried they’ll lose their position to online tools like ChatGPT?
“Not for the moments that matter,” says Mangoubi. “Big models still hallucinate, like a GPS that sends you down a phantom road, so every result gets a full human audit of numbers, sources, and context. And no chatbot can steady a rattled retiree or help a new widow through the mental fog; that kind of relationship is 100 percent human.”
Strangely Familiar?
Fairchild compares the current AI rush to the heady days of the early Internet.
At the time, he served as a product manager at AOL, leading teams that helped bring millions of Americans online in the mid-to-late 1990s.
“The excitement, confusion, and anxiety people feel today about AI? It reminds me vividly of 1995 or 1996 when the Internet was still a mystery to most, and the rules were being written in real-time.”
Generally speaking, financial planners are usually optimistic about the prospects of AI.
“Profits should climb… as people work less but create more,” says Mangoubi. “AI won’t just adjust balance sheets—it will reshape how society values time and talent.”
“We’re not afraid of AI — we’re energized by it,” says Fairchild. “And we’re committed to shaping its role thoughtfully, so its benefits flow directly to our clients and our community.”
Those interviewed planners are clear – AI isn’t replacing human wealth advisors; it’s enhancing them. As more professionals adopt generative tools, the future of finance should be faster, smarter, more automated, and customized.
Despite this, the human touch remains irreplaceable, especially when advisors consult with clients on significant decisions. The future of financial planning lies in a collaborative partnership between algorithmic precision and human judgment, a synergy where intuition and intelligence work in tandem.