Can you use AI to help manage your money?

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and personal finance has sparked a compelling discussion. Insights from a recent survey conducted in early July 2023 shed light on the pivotal role of AI in money management among US adults. Approximately 1,000 participants shared their perspectives on employing AI to handle their finances.

The survey revealed that 40% of the investors who participated believe AI holds promise as a valuable tool for managing their finances. Among this group, 57% express their willingness to use AI for financial purposes if it promises to resolve their monetary challenges.

This data suggests AI’s growing acceptance as a personal finance contender. However, a vast majority of people still place their trust in human financial advisors with whom they can communicate face-to-face and receive pertinent financial advice. Let’s explore the use of AI for managing your finances, its benefits, limitations, and more.

How has AI transformed money management so far?

1. Advice via AI-powered robo-advisors

AI-powered robo-advisors have become popular tools for managing investments. These systems use advanced algorithms to assess your financial goals, risk tolerance, and investment horizon. Based on this information, they create and manage a diversified investment portfolio on your behalf. While both AI and financial advisors play pivotal roles in providing financial advice and support, robo-advisors may reduce the reliance on human financial advisors, making financial planning more accessible and affordable. The result is a personalized investment strategy tailored to your needs and financial goals.

2. Enhanced risk management

When assessing the pros and cons of AI investing, the capability of AI to monitor and manage financial risks is one of its most notable advantages. By analyzing real-time market data and historical trends, AI algorithms can quickly process vast amounts of information to make informed trading decisions. This helps to minimize investment risk and grow your corpus with less stress.

3. Operational efficiency in banking

AI has enhanced operational processes in the banking and finance sectors. AI-powered automation tools can handle routine tasks such as data entry, customer inquiries, and fraud detection. This leads to cost savings for financial institutions and results in faster and more accurate services for customers.

4. Easy and efficient fraud detection

AI excels in detecting unusual transaction patterns, allowing it to identify potential fraudulent activities promptly. This benefits consumers and financial institutions, ensuring the safety and integrity of financial transactions.

5. Improved credit scoring

AI-driven algorithms have improved the accuracy of credit scoring. By analyzing a wide array of data points beyond traditional credit history, AI can provide lenders with a more comprehensive assessment of your creditworthiness. This innovation can potentially expand access to credit for individuals deemed at risk and offer more favorable lending terms based on individual financial circumstances.

6. Personalized financial advice

AI can analyze financial habits, income, and goals to provide personalized financial advice. Whether budgeting, saving, or investing, AI-driven solutions can offer tailored recommendations. This can empower investors to make more informed financial decisions aligned with their unique financial situation and aspirations.

7. Comprehensive market analysis

AI-driven tools analyze data sources, including news and social media sentiment, to predict market trends and opportunities. Incorporating AI into one’s investment strategy can help investors in making strategic decisions in the ever-changing financial landscape. AI’s ability to process vast datasets and identify emerging trends can potentially lead to more profitable investment strategies.

Top 3 ways in which you can use AI to manage your money

1. Efficient budgeting

AI-powered financial apps and tools use machine learning to analyze your spending habits in real time, creating personalized budgets based on your income and expenses. This can help to maintain financial discipline and achieve your goals, ensuring efficient use of your money.

2. Smart investment decision-making

AI algorithms process vast financial data quickly, providing insights into investment opportunities and recommending diversified portfolios aligned with your risk tolerance and financial objectives. This can lead to better investment decisions and improved returns.

3. Predictive analytics

AI analyzes historical financial data and forecasts future trends. This can help to anticipate market fluctuations, changes in one’s financial situation, or investment opportunities. This can empower investors to proactively adjust their financial strategies and stay ahead in their financial journey.

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Limitations of using AI for managing your money

1. It relies on data quality and availability

AI systems rely on extensive data for informed financial decisions. Inaccurate, incomplete, or outdated data can lead to erroneous recommendations, affecting risk assessments, investment suggestions, and financial planning.

2. Lack of human judgment

AI lacks the emotional intelligence and personal understanding that humans possess. Personal financial decisions often involve factors such as family dynamics or individual preferences that AI can’t fully comprehend.

3. The possibility of algorithmic bias

AI models, trained on historical data, can be subject to algorithm biases, potentially perpetuating unfair outcomes in AI-generated financial advice. Certain demographic groups may be disproportionately affected, reinforcing existing inequalities.

4. Probable security risks

Using AI in financial management requires securely handling your personal and financial data. Inadequate security measures can expose data to unauthorized access, compromising sensitive financial information.

5. Overreliance on technology

Relying solely on AI for financial management may discourage you from actively engaging in your financial planning. It’s important to maintain a connection to your finances and not become overly dependent on technology to be able to make informed decisions.

6. Occasional unpredictability

While AI can enable high accuracy in many cases, it is not infallible. Market conditions can change rapidly and unpredictably, and AI models may struggle to adapt to unexpected events. It is thus widely recommended to exercise caution while trusting AI recommendations in financial decision-making.

Is AI the future of personal finance?

AI holds promise in the future of personal finance, with a significant portion of the population expressing interest in its use. However, building trust and demonstrating the value of AI-generated financial advice will be crucial for its widespread adoption.

Below are some data points to note:

1. Interest in AI tools: According to a recent survey, 37% of U.S. adults are interested in using AI tools for money management. This demonstrates a growing curiosity among consumers about leveraging AI for financial decision-making.
2. Levels of trust and comfort: The CFP Board survey highlights a degree of skepticism, with 51% of adults expressing little or no trust in financial advice from AI tools. Only 31% are comfortable implementing financial advice without verifying it from another source. This suggests that while interest exists, trust in AI-generated financial advice is a key factor for adoption.
3. Comfort levels through verification by a financial advisor: Comfort levels rise when AI advice is verified by a financial advisor, with 52% of respondents being comfortable with this arrangement. It underlines the potential synergy between AI and human expertise in personal finance.
4. Levels of satisfaction and interest: While 69% of consumers have not received financial planning advice from AI, those who have tried it report high satisfaction (79%). However, overall interest in AI-based financial advice remains lukewarm at 52%.
5. AI as a complementary role: Most consumers (52%) believe that generative AI tools will supplement traditional financial planning advice from human advisors in the future. This suggests that the consensus is leaning towards a coexistence of AI and human expertise in personal finance.

To conclude

AI can be a helpful tool for managing your money by offering insights, improving decision-making, and automating tasks. However, it should work alongside human judgment, as financial decisions often require a mix of data-driven advice and personal context. It’s also crucial to ensure strong data security when using artificial intelligence in financial management. To use AI effectively, it is crucial to find a balance between its capabilities and human expertise.

If you are looking for personalized help with money management, consider seeking the guidance of a qualified financial advisor. Our free advisor match tool can connect you with experienced professionals who can help create a plan per your unique financial conditions. All you need to do is provide us with some basic details about your financial situation and needs, and we can match you with 1-3 financial advisors who can provide tailored advice and support.