Changing shape

Personal financial advisors

Advise clients on financial plans using knowledge of tax and investment strategies, securities, insurance, pension plans, and real estate. Duties include assessing clients' assets, liabilities, cash flow, insurance coverage, tax status, and financial objectives. May also buy and sell financial assets for clients.

AI Resistance Index 6 of 99

Among the careers AI is changing fastest: more resilient than 6% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is very high (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it very high), and US jobs are projected to change by +1.4% by 2035, slower than average. The work leans on emotional intelligence and ethical judgement.

AI can do many of the tasks, and hiring is expected to grow slower than average or to shrink. The job is likely to change, so build the human parts of it.

Median pay (2025): $105,070
Job growth to 2035: +1.4%
Openings a year: 17,100
People doing it (2025): 299,000
Usual route in: Bachelor's degree, then long on-the-job training

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Where people already use AI for this work

Explain financial information
Advise others on financial matters
Implement procedures or processes

From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).

Work AI rarely helps with

Evaluate condition of financial assets, property, or other resources
Interview people to obtain information
Prepare financial documents, reports, or budgets

What the work looks like

Interview clients to determine their current income, expenses, insurance coverage, tax status, financial objectives, risk tolerance, or other information needed to develop a financial plan.
Analyze financial information obtained from clients to determine strategies for meeting clients' financial objectives.
Answer clients' questions about the purposes and details of financial plans and strategies.
Review clients' accounts and plans regularly to determine whether life changes, economic changes, environmental concerns, or financial performance indicate a need for plan reassessment.
Manage client portfolios, keeping client plans up-to-date.

From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.

What the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects

Fewer of these jobs, as more consumers rely on digital tools for financial planning advice.

Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook

Labor relations specialistsChanging shape, Index 39, +2.1%
Compensation and benefits managersChanging shape, Index 24, +1.1%
Credit counselorsChanging shape, Index 12, +3.3%
Genetic counselorsGrows with AI, Index 40, +10.4%

Also known as: Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Financial Advisor, Financial Planner, Portfolio Manager, Financial Consultant, Financial Counselor, Financial Life Planner, Investment Advisor.

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Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025 to 2035; O*NET 31.0; Microsoft Research (2025); Anthropic Economic Index (2026); Eloundou and colleagues (Science, 2024); Felten, Raj and Seamans (2023). How we score. Updated 12 October 2026.