Most Americans trust financial advisors far more than AI tools for major money decisions, according to a new Gallup study conducted with Edward Jones. The survey found that 79% of U.S. adults have at least some confidence in financial advisors, while fewer than three in 10 say the same about AI.
About three-quarters of Americans sought financial guidance from at least one source in the past year. Among those who did, the most common sources were:
- Internet research: 73%
- Family members: 35%
- Professional financial advisors: 32%
- News or social media: 26%
- Friends: 23%
- AI tools such as ChatGPT and Claude: 18%
Confidence falls sharply for AI
Confidence in the advice varies widely by source. About one-quarter of Americans said they have a great deal of confidence in financial advisors. Only 3% said the same about AI, and fewer than three in 10 said they have any confidence in AI for financial guidance.
David Chubak, head of wealth management at Edward Jones, said the research shows people still want a human for consequential decisions. "People aren't ready to trust AI as the decision maker for them, as the counselor," he said.
"Rather, they are still relying on their financial advisor as their trusted human partner to help them think through the process, the experience of that decision," Chubak added.
AI's role: tactical questions, not life decisions
Chubak said AI is mostly used for what he called "tactical" questions, like getting information about 401(k) retirement plans, 529 education savings accounts, or the recently launched Trump Accounts. He said people are less likely to use AI to work through the purpose of their financial plan or the anxieties they have about it.
He added that AI can help people identify when they need an advisor and sharpen the focus areas they want to discuss. That discovery work, he said, lets advisors concentrate on the opportunities that matter most.
Why this matters for finance professionals
For finance professionals, the study points to a practical shift. Clients are beginning to use AI for research and preparation, but they still expect a human advisor to interpret the answers and own the final recommendation.
That means advisors should expect clients to arrive with AI-generated output: numbers, comparisons, plan ideas that need context and scrutiny. Advisors who engage with that output without dismissing it will be better positioned to earn trust.
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