Financial Advisor AI Usage Dropped in 2026
A survey of 501 advisors showed AI adoption among professionals fell from 33% in 2025 to 20% in 2026.
Updated on Oct. 8, 2026 in Artificial Intelligence
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Financial advisors in the United States reported a decline in their usage of artificial intelligence tools over the past year. Data from 2026 indicates that adoption fell to 20%, down from 33% in 2025.
Why it matters
Advisors continue to face significant administrative and operational burdens that hinder service delivery. While many professionals recognize the potential for AI to save time, uncertainty regarding the reliability of these tools for complex financial decisions remains a challenge.
Of the 501 surveyed advisors, 43% use AI for meeting summaries and emails, while 36% utilize it for brainstorming. Only 18% consider these tools highly reliable for investment recommendations.
The players
Morningstar
Morningstar is a financial services firm that provides investment research, management, and data analysis.
The details
Advisors commonly integrate AI to assist with research, due diligence, and marketing content creation to manage increasing documentation complexity. Despite these applications, 19% of surveyed professionals currently view artificial intelligence as a threat to their practice.
Timeline
In 2025, 33% of financial advisors utilized AI tools.
During July and August 2026, Morningstar conducted a survey of 501 advisors.
In 2026, the share of advisors using AI fell to 20%.
The Tech Race
This decline follows the 2026 Morningstar financial advisor sentiment survey, which documents a cooling of enthusiasm for AI tools among industry professionals. It marks a significant shift from the rapid experimental adoption phase previously seen across the fintech sector.
Clients may notice fewer AI-drafted communications and a return to more traditional service methods for meeting documentation. Advisors remain focused on using these tools to mitigate operational barriers rather than relying on them for core investment decisions.
The takeaway
While AI technology offers clear time-saving benefits for meeting summaries and emails, its role in high-stakes financial decision-making remains limited. Professionals should focus on balancing technical efficiency with the high level of reliability required for client portfolios.
Further reading
For broader trends in this field, visit our Artificial Intelligence section.
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