Study: Experienced Investors with $500+ Portfolios Refuse to Let AI Chatbots Run Their 401(k)s

VILNIUS, Lithuania - Dec. 11, 2025 - PRLog -- A new InvestorsObserver (https://investorsobserver.com/research/survey-1-in-5-investors-dont-trust-ai-with-any-money-task-and-only-5-act-on-ai-advice-without-human-checks/) survey of 1,050 experienced U.S. investors ages 35 to 60, each with portfolios of $500,000 or more including 401(k)s and IRAs, finds that while AI is gaining ground in finance, investors still insist on human judgment when it comes to retirement and many other financial tasks.

Nearly two-thirds (64%) have never used AI chatbots for investment advice, and only 5% say they act on AI-generated recommendations without doing their own research or consulting an expert.​

12% of respondents answered that they would let AI handle their retirement planning and tax optimization.

19% said they wouldn't let AI handle any financial task.

59% plan to use or keep using AI for financial advice in the future, but most treat it as a research accelerator rather than a "digital advisor" in charge of their nest egg.​

"People are open to using AI chatbots to generate ideas, but when it comes to life savings in 401(k)s and IRAs, they want a human hand on the wheel," said Sam Bourgi, senior analyst at InvestorsObserver. "Today, AI can inform retirement decisions, but it should not replace personal judgment or professional advice."​

The findings suggest a "hybrid" model is emerging, where investors use AI to surface funds, flag risks, or compare fees, but still decide 401(k) contributions, rebalancing, and retirement timelines themselves or with an advisor.

This cautious stance may help prevent costly mistakes from overreliance on unverified AI output, especially as automated tools become more persuasive but not always more accurate, even make people lose money.

ABOUT THE EXPERT

Sam Bourgi is a finance analyst and researcher at InvestorsObserver, bringing over 13 years of expertise in financial markets, economics, and monetary policy. His professional background spans the private, nonprofit, and public sectors, where he has held positions such as senior policy adviser, labor market analyst, and marketing director. Sam's in-depth research and market analysis have been referenced by leading institutions and organizations, including the U.S. Congress, Department of Justice, Chicago Board Options Exchange, Bank for International Settlements, Boston University Law Review, Barron's, and Forbes. Sam regularly appears on TV, including CBN (https://cbn.com/video/shows/global-lane-ep909-august-28-2025), KFYR TV (https://www.kfyrtv.com/video/2025/08/05/safe-havens-852025/), 11Alive (https://www.11alive.com/video/news/11alive-news-the-take-halloween-finances-a-trick-no-treat-103025/85-c36c593a-320e-4850-b273-ba28db3e86dd), and ABC30 (https://abc30.com/post/watching-wallet-how-each-generation-is-investing/17732311/), and is often quoted by such media outlets as the SF Chronicle (https://www.sfchronicle.com/personal-finance/article/bitcoin-crypto-ai-invest-20809592.php) and MSN (https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/personalfinance/crypto-fomo-is-real-here-s-why-it-feels-so-bad-and-what-you-can-do-about-it/ar-AA1LA16i?ocid=finance-verthp-feeds).

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