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SAVVI Financial has released research on how US workers are using artificial intelligence for financial guidance. The survey found that many employees want human oversight before acting on AI-generated recommendations.
The study of more than 600 full-time, benefits-eligible US employees aged 25 to 60 suggests workers are turning to tools such as ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini as financial pressures intensify. According to SAVVI, 57% of respondents had used one of those tools for financial guidance, while one in five later concluded the advice did not account for their full financial situation.
The findings point to a growing role for general AI tools in workplace personal finance decisions, even as confidence in those tools remains limited. The survey found that 81% of respondents would want a human adviser to review AI-generated recommendations before they acted on them.
Interest in employer-backed services also stood out. The survey found that 64% of workers would use an AI-powered financial guidance tool if their employer offered one.
Rising strain
Beyond AI, the research highlights broader concerns about household finances and long-term planning. More than half of respondents (52%) said their financial stress was higher than it had been 12 months earlier.
Retirement expectations have also shifted. SAVVI found that 61% of workers now expect to retire later than they had originally planned.
The report suggests employees are making decisions across several linked areas, including retirement, health insurance, debt, savings, taxes and major life events, often without a single source of guidance that reflects their full financial position. That gap may help explain why 46% of respondents said they had made a financial decision in the past year that they later regretted.
A large majority (81%) said they wanted a single view showing how benefits, savings, debt and other financial obligations interact. The result indicates demand for more joined-up support rather than isolated pieces of information.
Trust question
The survey adds to the broader debate over where AI fits in high-stakes personal decisions. While generative AI tools can provide quick responses, the findings suggest workers still draw a line between gathering information and making final choices.
That distinction is particularly relevant in personal finance, where recommendations on savings, pensions, debt or insurance can have long-term effects. The report found that access to more information has not necessarily improved confidence, particularly when responses are not tailored to an individual's broader circumstances.
Brian Harrison, President of SAVVI Financial, said the results showed workers were actively seeking help rather than avoiding financial decisions.
"Workers aren't disengaged from their finances; they're actively looking for answers in an increasingly complex financial environment," said Brian Harrison, President of SAVVI Financial.
He added that employers had a chance to address that need through more trusted forms of support.
"Employers have an opportunity to deliver trusted guidance that helps employees make informed decisions that build financial strength," Harrison said.
Employer role
The research positions employers as a potential channel for financial guidance, especially where benefits, retirement planning and day-to-day money decisions overlap. Companies already sit close to many of the choices employees must make, from health cover to pension contributions, and may be seen as a practical route for integrated tools.
SAVVI argues that older models of financial education focused too narrowly on separate health or wealth topics. It said employees now want support that connects those decisions and shows how one choice may affect another over time.
Harrison said that demand had changed the definition of financial well-being in the workplace.
"Financial wellness has evolved beyond siloed health- and wealth-focused education. Employees need personalized, connected guidance that helps them make better decisions throughout their daily lives. With the right technology, organizations that invest in helping employees navigate financial complexity can substantially reduce workforce stress, improve employee satisfaction and strengthen business outcomes," Harrison said.
The survey was conducted at a 95% confidence level with a margin of error of ±4 %. The findings offer a snapshot of a workforce willing to use AI for sensitive financial questions, but still expecting human review when the consequences are significant.