How Generative AI Is Transforming Client Expectations in Financial Planning (And Why It Might Be Malpractice Not to Use It)

We’re standing at a turning point in how professionals deliver value and financial planning is no exception. 

In fact, I believe we’re approaching a moment where not using generative AI could be considered malpractice.That’s not an exaggeration. It’s a reflection of how dramatically AI is reshaping client expectations and advisory work.

I’ve seen this shift firsthand. I’ve trained a large language model using over a decade of my own research, insights, and personal philosophies — and used it to scale my influence, expand my consulting, and elevate how I serve. But this isn’t just about boosting productivity.

Generative AI: A Powerful Multiplier for Knowledge and Influence

Let’s kill the myth that generative AI replaces humans. It doesn’t.

I’ve spent over a decade developing knowledge and research in my field. By training a large language model on my own intellectual capital, I’ve created a digital version of my expertise. This AI model doesn’t diminish my role. Instead, it scales my insights, enabling me to serve more clients, deliver more value, and expand my consulting and speaking opportunities.

That’s the future: scaling insight without diluting it.

Think of it as a force multiplier:

• More clients can access my expertise.

• My availability is no longer constrained by time zones or calendars.

• The core quality of advice remains high.

For knowledge workers, this isn’t just an upgrade,  it’s a transformation.

AI as a Tool to Reduce Anxiety and Navigate the Future

Financial planning is emotional. Clients don’t just want numbers, they want clarity in chaos. They’re searching for confidence when the future feels unclear.

Generative AI offers exactly that. It can simulate scenarios, analyze trends, and forecast potential outcomes. It helps clients make sense of “what could happen.” It’s like giving them a flashlight in the fog.

This capability doesn’t just make planners more efficient it provides reassurance. When clients can visualize possible futures and understand their options, their anxiety decreases.

This shift positions us not only as advisors but as trusted guides who help clients navigate complexity with confidence.

The Ethical Wake-Up Call: Is Ignoring AI Negligence?

Here’s a provocative idea: Choosing not to use generative AI may one day be seen as malpractice.

Why? Because AI tools are quickly becoming part of the standard of care. When they enable better, faster, and more accurate advice, not adopting them means potentially failing to act in clients’ best interests.

As professionals, we’re trusted with our clients’ futures. If we have access to tools that improve decision-making, scenario planning, and communication and we don’t use them we risk falling behind and, worse, letting our clients down.

As AI matures, staying current with technology is no longer about innovation for its own sake; it's an ethical obligation to protect and empower those you serve. 

Human + AI = The Winning Formula

It’s easy to get caught up in doomsday narratives about machines replacing humans. But generative AI isn’t built to eliminate jobs. It’s built to accelerate our expertise.

Instead of spending countless hours on repetitive research or document preparation, AI handles the groundwork. You remain at the center interpreting data, providing empathy, human judgment and delivering nuanced advice.

More than anything, it makes us more human. Because when AI manages the systems and simulations, it frees us up to serve more people, at a higher standard, without sacrificing the human touch.

Human Insight Remains the Ultimate Differentiator

Despite these advances, there’s one thing AI can’t replicate: the human element.

Empathy. Judgment. Intuition.
These qualities set trusted professionals apart.

Generative AI can analyze, predict, and simulate but it takes a human to interpret meaning, build trust, and inspire confidence.

Training AI on Your Knowledge: A New Era of Personal Branding

Imagine your most valuable insights, your frameworks, methodologies, and experience digitally preserved and ready to deploy at scale.

By training AI on your unique body of work, you can create a personalized AI “clone” of yourself. This approach doesn’t just amplify your reach; it safeguards your intellectual capital and ensures your impact continues long after you’ve left the room.

In an era where differentiation is everything, your own AI model can become a powerful brand asset.

The Future Is Personalized AI (And It’s Closer Than You Think)

Imagine a world where every financial planner has their own digital twin, a personalized AI trained in their voice, values, and expertise.

It could answer questions, draft plans, run simulations all while sounding like you. That’s not science fiction. That’s the logical evolution of how we’re using AI today.

And here’s the real game-changer: Clients will expect this level of access. Personalized, on-demand, insightful advice, 24/7.

Soon, people will interact with a digital version of us asking questions and getting answers in our own words whether it’s about finances, health, or even lifestyle.

That’s the future. And it’s already on the runway.

Final Thought: Don't Compete With AI, Co-Create With It

The integration of generative AI into financial planning isn’t a passing trend, it's a paradigm shift.

The smartest professionals aren’t resisting AI. They’re training for it. Shaping it. Partnering with it.

When we harness AI to scale our knowledge, reduce client anxiety, and accelerate our delivery, we’re not just adopting a new tool. We’re reshaping what it means to serve clients in the 21st century.

That’s the opportunity.

So if you’re in financial planning or any field where trust and insight matter now is the time. Use AI to scale your humanity, not replace it.

The question isn’t whether AI will change your profession. It’s how you’ll use it to lead the change.

About the Author:

Shawn Kanungo is a globally recognized disruption strategist and keynote speaker who helps organizations adapt to change and leverage disruptive thinking. Named one of the "Best New Speakers" by the National Speakers Bureau, Shawn has spoken at some of the world's most innovative organizations, including IBM, Walmart, and 3M. His expertise in digital disruption strategies helps leaders navigate transformation and build resilience in an increasingly uncertain business environment.