Clients are bringing AI-generated information into advice conversations, survey shows
New Zealand financial planners are adopting artificial intelligence (AI) more widely than their overseas counterparts, according to global research released on 7 October, World Financial Planning Day.
The 2026 Impact of AI on Financial Planning study by the Financial Planning Standards Board (FPSB) surveyed 8,095 planners across 37 territories between May and July. Of the 104 New Zealand respondents, 87% reported using AI, compared with 80% globally. Local planners were also more optimistic about its potential effect on financial advice, at 75% against a global figure of 53%.
Nick Hakes (pictured left), chief executive of Financial Advice New Zealand, said the industry body had backed advisers through its AI in Advice Certificate, an executive short course.
"Feedback from advisers overwhelmingly demonstrates that they are more confident in adopting AI into their advice practices," Hakes said.
Planners expect better service and wider access
Across the global sample, 83% of those surveyed said AI would help them serve clients better, up from 78% in 2025. Three-quarters expected it to lift the quality of advice, a sharp rise from 60% a year earlier.
Expectations about reach have also grown. Seven in 10 respondents believe AI will open up advice to underserved groups, up from six in 10, while 68% expect it to reduce the cost of advice, compared with 59% in 2025.
Clients arrive with AI-generated answers
The research suggests consumers are already bringing the technology into the advice process. A third of planners said general financial education was the most common way clients used AI, while a quarter said clients used it to check or compare professional advice.
That is starting to reshape conversations between planners and clients. One in five planners (21%) reported a greater need to put AI-generated information in context or correct it, while 19% said client use of AI had led to more collaborative discussions.
Mortgage clients appear to want the same reassurance. Cotality's AI in Housing 2026 report found 44% of buyers would pay extra for a human expert to verify AI-driven decisions on borrowing capacity, property risk, or mortgage rates.
Human judgement still central
FPSB chief executive Dante De Gori (pictured right) said technology could widen access to planning but stressed the continuing role of qualified professionals.
"AI may become an increasingly common support tool in financial planning, but it is not a substitute for professional judgment," De Gori said.
Regulators are also paying attention. The Financial Markets Authority (FMA) launched a thematic review of AI in financial advice in August, surveying advice providers and advisers on how the technology is being adopted and overseen.
Stay informed with the latest housing market trends and mortgage insights — subscribe to our free daily newsletter.
