Financial Adviser vs. AI: What a Human Can Do for You That ChatGPT Can’t

I’ve been asked more than once lately: “Brett, with AI tools like ChatGPT around, why would I need a financial adviser?”

It’s a fair question. Technology is changing how we all access information. You can now type in a question about superannuation, retirement, or investing, and get an instant, seemingly intelligent response.

But here’s the truth: while AI is an incredible tool, it doesn’t replace the role of a human financial adviser. Understanding the difference could save you from some painful mistakes.

What AI Does Well

Let’s give AI credit where it’s due.

1. Information at Your Fingertips
   If you want to know the definition of a downsizer contribution, how much super tax is, or the basics of compound interest, AI will tell you in seconds. No jargon, no waiting.

2. Education and Awareness
   For someone just starting out, AI is brilliant at helping you understand concepts, compare options, and see examples. It makes financial literacy more accessible than ever before.

3. 24/7 Availability
   Unlike me, AI doesn’t sleep. You can ask questions at 2am and get an answer instantly.

These are all positives. But here’s where the limitations come in.

What AI Can’t Do (And Advisers Can)

1. Personal Context
   AI can explain what super is. It cannot understand that you’re 52, recently divorced, have two kids, and a complicated property settlement hanging over your head. A financial adviser looks at your life, not just the textbook answer.

2. Emotions and Behaviour
   Money isn’t just numbers. It’s feelings: fear, guilt, stress, hope. An adviser helps you make decisions when you’re emotional, tired, or tempted to panic. AI cannot look you in the eye and say, “Don’t sell everything just because the market dipped.”

3. Accountability and Action
   AI can suggest you create a budget. A financial adviser can sit with you, go through your actual bank statements, and hold you accountable to sticking with it. Advice without action is just theory.

4. Ethics and Duty of Care
   Licensed advisers in Australia are bound by law to act in your best interest. If we give bad advice, we are accountable. AI doesn’t carry that responsibility. It simply generates text.

5. Integration With Your Whole Life
   Your money decisions don’t happen in isolation. Divorce, aged care, downsizing, raising kids — these are all interconnected. A financial adviser helps you make sense of the bigger picture and builds a plan that actually works in real life.

The Risks of Relying Only on AI

• Generic Advice: AI isn’t tailored to your circumstances. It may give you a “right” answer that’s completely wrong for your life.

• Outdated or Incomplete Info: AI relies on patterns of text. It doesn’t always reflect the latest law changes, super rules, or tax updates.

• No Accountability: If you act on AI advice and lose money, there’s no recourse.

So, Which Should You Use?

Both.

Use AI as a learning tool. Use it to prepare questions, understand terms, and get your head around concepts before talking to a professional. But when it comes to making actual financial decisions that shape your life, trust a qualified adviser who knows you, understands your goals, and can guide you through the messy, emotional parts of money.

Because at the end of the day, AI can tell you what a downsizer contribution is. It cannot tell you whether downsizing your home, with your family and your income, is the right choice.

That’s where the human connection matters.

Book your complimentary session and let’s talk about your situation.