Personal Financial Advisors
Machines can already do 54% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 78%. Most of the work is changing now.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Personal Financial Advisors in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 54% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 35% of them.
- Forecast: machines can already do half of its tasks, and 78% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 266,800 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $105,070 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 65% for contact with people.
- Also called: Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Financial Advisor, Financial Consultant, Financial Counselor.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 9% | 55% to 85% | |
| Analyze financial information obtained from clients to determine strategies for meeting clients' financial objectives | 9% | 80% to 97% | |
| Manage client portfolios, keeping client plans up-to-date | 8% | 84% to 97% | |
| Recruit and maintain client bases | 8% | 10% to 30% | |
| Answer clients' questions about the purposes and details of financial plans and strategies | 7% | 80% to 97% | |
| Review clients' accounts and plans regularly to determine whether life changes, economic changes, environmental concerns, or financial performance indicate a need for plan reassessment | 7% | 25% to 55% | |
| Recommend to clients strategies in cash management, insurance coverage, investment planning, or other areas to help them achieve their financial goals | 6% | 35% to 65% | |
| Implement financial planning recommendations, or refer clients to someone who can assist them with plan implementation | 6% | 25% to 55% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills personal financial advisors use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Financial Examiners73% of tasks by 2035 · US median $94,160
- Treasurers and Controllers65% of tasks by 2035 · US median $166,570
- Loan Officers76% of tasks by 2035 · US median $76,690
- Compensation and Benefits Managers62% of tasks by 2035 · US median $149,230
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Personal Financial Advisors?
Machines can already do half of its tasks. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of personal financial advisors?
Machines can do 54% of the tasks of personal financial advisors today and 78% by 2035. Most of the routine work moves to machines, and the people in the job move to oversight, judgement and client work.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 13-2052.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Personal Financial Advisors: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/personal-financial-advisors/