The findings show 42% of clients research via digital assistants before consulting advisers, though one in five introduces inaccurate artificial Intelligence (AI) data into planning sessions.

AI is fundamentally reshaping the dynamic between wealth advisers and high-net-worth individuals, as retail and affluent investors increasingly deploy digital models to scrutinise professional advice before making allocation decisions, according to an industry survey by Pacific Life released on 27 October. The findings revealed 43% of surveyed practitioners reporting their clients were actively utilising AI  The survey, conducted during Pacific Life’s 2026 Educational Symposium he