8 in 10 financial planners to adopt AI within a year: FPSB India report
Synopsis
A global survey of over 8,000 financial planners across 37 countries finds that 8 in 10 firms are now using or imminently adopting AI — up sharply from 6 in 10 just a year ago. With 93 per cent reporting efficiency gains and 70 per cent believing AI can reach underserved populations, the profession is at an inflection point where the human adviser's value lies not in information delivery, but in judgment and context.
Key Takeaways
8 in 10 financial planner firms are using AI or plan to adopt it within 12 months , up from 6 in 10 in 2025, per FPSB India .
Survey covered over 8,000 financial planners across 37 countries , including India .
93 per cent of planners said AI improved their work efficiency; 49 per cent said they can now serve more clients.
83 per cent believe AI will help them better serve clients, up from 78 per cent in 2025; 75 per cent expect quality improvements, up from 60 per cent .
Nearly 70 per cent believe AI can expand access for underserved populations ; 68 per cent expect it to lower service costs.
33 per cent of planners report clients already using AI for financial education; 25 per cent see clients using it to validate professional advice.
Eight in ten financial planner firms are either already using artificial intelligence or plan to adopt it within the next 12 months, according to a new report by FPSB India released on 10 October 2026. That marks a notable jump from six in ten recorded in 2025, signalling that AI is rapidly crossing from early adoption into mainstream use across the financial planning profession.
Key Findings from the Global Survey
The findings draw on a global survey of over 8,000 financial planners across 37 countries, including India. Among the headline numbers: 93 per cent of respondents said AI has improved their work efficiency, 52 per cent cited gains in operational efficiency, and 49 per cent reported the ability to serve more clients as a direct result of AI tools.
Confidence in AI's broader potential has also risen. 83 per cent of planners now believe AI will help them better serve clients — up from 78 per cent in 2025 — while 75 per cent expect it to improve the overall quality of financial planning services, a sharp rise from 60 per cent the previous year.
What FPSB India's Leadership Said
Ramesh Vishwanathan, CEO of FPSB India, acknowledged the technology's disruptive momentum while flagging its limits. 'AI is rapidly transforming how financial information is created, accessed and consumed. While the technology offers significant opportunities to improve efficiency and broaden access to financial planning, information alone is not enough,' he said.
Vishwanathan further noted that the human element remains indispensable. 'Financial decisions require context, judgment and an understanding of an individual's goals, priorities and circumstances. As AI becomes more widely used, the role of qualified financial planning professionals in helping consumers interpret information in individual context and make informed decisions becomes even more important,' he added.
AI as a Tool for Financial Inclusion
The report also highlights AI's potential to democratise access to financial planning. Nearly 70 per cent of respondents believed AI can improve access for underserved populations, while 68 per cent expect it to help lower the cost of financial services — a finding with particular relevance for a country like India, where formal financial planning penetration remains limited.
How Clients Are Already Using AI
Consumer behaviour is shifting in parallel. 33 per cent of planners reported their clients are already using AI tools for general financial education, while 25 per cent observed clients using AI to validate or compare professional advice. This comes amid a broader global trend of retail investors and savers turning to AI chatbots for financial queries — raising fresh questions about information quality and the risk of unsupervised financial decision-making.
What This Means for the Profession
The data collectively points to a profession at an inflection point: AI is no longer a future consideration but an operational reality for the majority of financial planning firms globally. The next phase will likely centre on governance frameworks, data privacy standards, and defining the boundaries of AI-generated advice — areas that regulators and professional bodies, including FPSB India, are expected to address in the months ahead.
Point of View
And that gap is where the next mis-selling scandal could incubate.
NationPress
10 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the FPSB India AI report say about financial planners?
The FPSB India report, based on a global survey of over 8,000 financial planners across 37 countries, found that 8 in 10 firms are using AI or plan to adopt it within 12 months — up from 6 in 10 in 2025. The report highlights efficiency gains, cost reduction potential, and the growing role of AI in serving underserved populations.
How has AI adoption among financial planners changed from 2025 to 2026?
AI adoption has risen significantly, with 8 in 10 financial planner firms now using or planning to adopt AI within a year, compared to 6 in 10 in 2025. Confidence in AI's benefits has also grown, with 83 per cent now expecting it to help serve clients better, up from 78 per cent last year.
What efficiency gains are financial planners seeing from AI?
93 per cent of surveyed planners reported improved work efficiency, 52 per cent cited operational efficiency gains, and 49 per cent said they are able to serve more clients due to AI. These figures come from a global survey of over 8,000 planners across 37 countries.
Can AI improve access to financial planning for underserved populations?
Nearly 70 per cent of financial planners surveyed believe AI can improve access to financial planning for underserved populations. An additional 68 per cent expect AI to help lower the overall cost of financial services, which could be particularly significant for countries like India with low formal financial planning penetration.
Are clients already using AI for financial decisions?
Yes. According to the FPSB India report, 33 per cent of planners say their clients are already using AI for general financial education, while 25 per cent report clients using AI tools to validate or compare professional advice — a trend that underscores the growing role of AI at the consumer level.
