AI for Advisors newsletter
Daily AI use among financial advisors has nearly tripled in just one year—jumping from 9% to 24%—while the share of non-users has been cut nearly in half, dropping from 38% to 22%, according to Horsesmouth’s latest survey of 400+ advisors.
These aren’t isolated trends. Microsoft’s 2024 workplace survey found that 75% of knowledge workers now use AI tools.
But here’s the critical insight from our survey: 54% of users are still just “dabbling,” using AI intermittently, missing the compound benefits that daily users consistently report.
The momentum is obvious. The question isn’t whether AI will transform advisory practices. It’s whether you’ll be driving that transformation—or watching it happen around you.
Three AI advisor archetypes
Our Advisor-AI Usage Survey reveals a profession in motion, with advisors clustering into three distinct groups:
Power Users (24%) have made AI part of their daily workflow: They’ve moved beyond basic content creation into strategic territory—using AI for client meeting preparation, compliance documentation, and operational efficiency. “No longer starting from a blank page,” one advisor wrote. “AI gives me momentum on writing, presentations, and even structuring meetings.”
These advisors aren’t just drafting emails. According to our survey, they’re using AI to simplify complex financial topics for clients (25%), create educational content (25%), and brainstorm marketing strategies (24%). They’ve discovered what Microsoft research confirms: Daily AI users report dramatically higher productivity, focus, and job satisfaction than occasional users.
Dabblers (54%) have tried AI, yet still not integrated it into their daily routine: They use it intermittently, often defaulting back to old methods when deadlines loom or complexity increases. They’re missing the confidence-competence loop that transforms AI from a novelty into a force multiplier.
Sideliners (22%) are still watching from the fence: While their numbers have dropped significantly, they represent a substantial portion of the profession still operating without AI assistance in an increasingly AI-augmented landscape.
The Dabbler’s dilemma: Why intermittent isn’t enough
If you’re a Dabbler, you’ve likely experienced AI’s potential in moments—that perfectly crafted client email, the executive summary that captured your thoughts better than you could. But sporadic use creates sporadic results. Here’s what changes when you shift from dabbling to daily:
Confidence compounds with consistency. Horsesmouth’s survey shows that 44% of advisors now feel confident in their AI skills—up from 34% last year. But only 11% describe themselves as “very confident.” The gap isn’t about intelligence or technical ability. It’s about practice frequency. Daily users develop intuitive judgment about when and how to use AI effectively.
The training is available. The only question left is whether you’re ready to stop dabbling and start driving results.
Workflows transform, not just tasks. Occasional users typically approach AI reactively—“Let me see if ChatGPT can help with this.” Daily users think proactively—“How can AI enhance every step of client onboarding?” or “What if AI helped me prepare for every prospect meeting?” They’ve moved from using AI as a tool to thinking with AI as a co-intelligence.
Quality improves through iteration. Nearly two-thirds of advisors now use AI in an iterative, back-and-forth manner, according to our 2025 usage data. This isn’t just about getting better outputs, it’s about developing the conversational skills that taps AI’s full potential. As one advisor noted, AI helps with “new ways of expressing an idea…excellent for drafting an email, speech, or even generating newsletter ideas.”
Simple tactics to level up your game:
1. Kickstart the day: One key email
Advisor-use case: Drafting a morning check-in or client reminder email.
Sample prompt:
Act as a professional financial advisor copywriter. Draft a short, clear email reminding my client [Client First Name] about our portfolio review scheduled for [Date/Time]. Here’s some context about [add any short statement about the background or reason for the meeting]. Keep the tone warm and professional, under 120 words.
2. Client prep: One-page agenda
Advisor-use case: Walking into meetings with structure.
Sample prompt:
Create a one-page client meeting agenda for [Client First Name, Age, Household Details, Relevant Context].
Focus on these topics: [e.g., retirement income, tax planning, portfolio review].
Format with a headline, 3-5 bullet points, and space for notes.
Keep it clear and advisor-ready.
3. Fast insights: 3 talking points from industry research
Advisor-use case: Translating industry research into client-friendly insights.
Sample prompt:
I just read the attached report on [Topic, e.g., Section 179 Expensing for Small Businesses]. Extract 3 key insights that are most relevant to pre-retiree business-owner clients ages 55-65. Rewrite each insight as a plain-English talking point I can share in meetings or emails.
4. Polish in minutes: From bullets to client-ready
Advisor-use case: Converting rough notes into polished explanations.
Sample prompt:
Here are my rough bullets for explaining [Concept, e.g., Roth conversions]:
- Taxes now versus later
- Future income brackets
- Estate planning benefits
Turn these into a clear, client-ready explanation under 200 words. Keep the tone reassuring and educational, at a 9th-grade reading level.
You’re not alone
Financial advisors aren’t experiencing this transition in isolation. According to Microsoft’s 2024 research, 78% of professionals are “bringing their own AI” to work—often without formal training or governance. Meanwhile, a recent Harvard Business Review study reveals a telling evolution: While professionals used AI primarily for basic tasks like idea generation and text editing in 2024, the top use cases have shifted toward deeper applications like personal coaching, life organization, and learning enhancement.
Microsoft’s workplace survey reveals something crucial about daily users: They consistently report better outcomes, including time savings (90%), improved focus (85%), boosted creativity (84%), and increased work satisfaction (83%).
But Microsoft’s research exposes a critical gap: Only 39% of professionals have received company-provided AI training, even as 66% of leaders say they wouldn’t hire someone without AI skills.
This creates an opportunity for advisors who act now. While other industries stumble through trial-and-error adoption, financial professionals can build competence through structured, compliant approaches.
Compliance and ‘Being AI forward’
Our latest Advisor-AI Usage Survey identifies compliance and privacy concerns as top barriers to AI adoption, but this reflects, to some degree, a training challenge, more than a technical one.
The leap from dabbling with AI to being a Power User isn’t really about compliance and doesn’t require coding or tech skills. It’s about learning to think with AI, asking better questions, and applying it with judgment, always informed by compliance awareness.
The key is understanding what it means to be “AI forward, not AI first.” What I mean by this is that we’re a human-first profession. Clients come to financial professionals for our judgment, not our tech stack. AI should enhance our clarity, not override it.
This framing transforms compliance from a constraint into a competitive advantage. When you know how to use AI within proper compliance boundaries (protecting client data, maintaining professional standards, and preserving the human elements that build trust) you can leverage its power without hesitation.
Your next move: From experimentation to excellence
The results are clear: AI adoption among advisors will continue accelerating. The ones who thrive will be those who move from reactive experimentation to proactive integration.
For Dabblers, this means committing to daily use, even in small ways. Start with low-stakes tasks—draft emails, meeting notes, client explanations—and build your confidence through repetition. The goal isn’t perfection; it’s progression.
For Sideliners, the time for waiting has passed. While you’ve been evaluating, your peers have been learning. The good news? The path forward is clearer now than ever, with proven training approaches and compliance frameworks that eliminate the guesswork.
The most successful advisors in 2026 won’t be those with the most sophisticated tech stacks. They’ll be those who learned to think with AI, using it to enhance their judgment, amplify their expertise, and create more meaningful client experiences.
The momentum is here. The training is available. The only question left is whether you’re ready to stop dabbling and start driving results.
Ready to make the leap? Horsesmouth’s AI for Advisors Pro training programs provide the structured, advisor-specific approach that transforms occasional users into confident practitioners. Learn more at www.horsesmouth.com/aipro.