Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing how people access financial information and how financial planners serve their clients, but professional advice remains essential in making sound financial decisions, according to the Financial Planning Association of Malaysia (FPAM).
Following World Financial Planning Day on 7 October, FPAM shared findings from the Financial Planning Standards Board Ltd. (FPSB)’s 2026 Impact of AI on Financial Planning research, which examines how AI is influencing the financial planning profession globally.
Now in its second year, the research found that financial planners are increasingly using AI to improve operational efficiency, support market analysis and serve more clients. At the same time, clients are bringing AI-generated information into discussions with their financial planners, reinforcing the importance of professional competence, ethical standards and human judgement.
Financial Planners Optimistic About AI
The global research found growing optimism among financial planners about AI’s potential to improve client service and the quality of financial advice.
Some 83% of planners said AI would help them serve clients better, up from 78% in 2025. Meanwhile, 75% believed AI would improve the quality of advice, compared with 60% the previous year.
These findings suggest that financial planners increasingly see AI as a tool that can support their work and strengthen the services they provide to clients.
AI Could Expand Access to Financial Planning
Beyond improving efficiency, AI could also make financial planning more accessible and affordable.
Seven in 10 financial planners expect AI to increase access to financial planning for underserved populations, up from six in 10 in 2025. In addition, 68% believe AI will lower the cost of financial advice, compared with 59% in the previous year.
If these expectations are realised, AI could help more people access financial information and planning services, including those who have traditionally faced barriers to professional advice.
Consumers Are Already Using AI for Financial Decisions
AI is also beginning to influence how consumers approach financial decisions and interact with professional financial planners.
According to the research, 33% of planners said clients most commonly used AI for general financial education, while 25% reported that clients used it to validate or compare professional advice.
This growing use of AI is changing conversations between planners and their clients. Some 21% of planners said AI had increased the need to contextualise or correct AI-generated information, while 19% reported an increase in collaborative discussions.
As consumers increasingly turn to AI for financial information, professional planners play an important role in helping them assess whether that information is accurate, relevant and appropriate to their individual circumstances.
Why Professional Financial Advice Still Matters
FPSB chief executive officer Dante De Gori, CFP®, acknowledged AI’s potential to expand access to financial planning and improve how professionals serve their clients. However, he emphasised that technology cannot replace the judgement, ethical responsibility and human understanding that qualified financial planners bring to their work.
AI-generated information may offer useful starting points, but financial decisions must also account for an individual’s goals, financial position and life circumstances.
Professional financial planners can help clients interpret information, assess its relevance and make informed decisions based on their personal needs.
FPAM Encourages Malaysians to Discuss AI With Their Financial Planners
As Malaysia observes Financial Literacy Month in October, FPAM is encouraging the public to discuss any AI-generated financial information they use to inform their decisions with their financial planners.
A Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) professional can help determine whether the information is accurate and suitable for a client’s financial goals and circumstances. Planners can also explain how AI is used in their own practices.
The association continues to promote financial literacy across Malaysia and advance the CFP® mark as a leading symbol of excellence in personal financial planning.
Global Research Covers More Than 8,000 Financial Planners
The FPSB and its global network conducted the online survey between 22 May and 6 July 2026, collecting responses from 8,095 financial planners across 37 territories.
Malaysia is among the 29 territories where CFP professionals are certified. Worldwide, there are 236,300 CFP professionals.
As AI becomes more integrated into financial services, the findings highlight the importance of balancing technological innovation with professional standards, ethical responsibility and personalised advice.
For more information about CFP certification and FPAM’s work in financial planning and literacy, visit www.fpam.org.my.
