The advice generated by ChatGPT or other generative AIs can impress with their speed of analysis, but they do not recreate the human relationship of trust built over time. The era of AIs, paradoxically, is highlighting the importance of bringing humans back into finance.

Intrinsic Limits

It is tempting to believe that a robo-advisor or a virtual agent will optimally answer all of an investor's questions.

However, the illusion of infallible intelligence quickly collides with reality. First, no AI can predict market movements with certainty or fully grasp the nuances of each personal situation.

The Financial Markets Authority (AMF) warns: these tools, no matter how sophisticated, "do not replace the investment advice of a finance professional."

Nothing guarantees that automated recommendations will be suited to the client's needs, nor that they will produce the expected results. Moreover, AIs generate their recommendations based on sometimes outdated or fragmented data, without any real capacity for critical reflection.

In other words, AI remains a tool, not a strategist: it lacks human intuition, the capacity for influence, or the relational dynamics necessary to transform a situation. A machine can certainly analyze vast amounts of data, but it will always be foreign to the emotional complexity associated with financial decisions, just as it can never reassure a client troubled by market fluctuations. Furthermore, AI agents operate outside the regulated framework that applies to human advisors: there is no clearly established fiduciary responsibility, nor a mediator to turn to in case of disputes. This lack of regulatory safety net underscores that in the event of a problem, the algorithm cannot respond in place of the advisor.

While AI excels at processing data, it remains devoid of empathy and true contextual understanding.

It is precisely in these areas that human advisors make a difference. Investors, whether individuals or institutions, continue to attach crucial importance to the human dimension of the financial relationship. A survey by Nerdwallet reveals that 84% of clients prefer to entrust their money to a human advisor, compared to only 16% to an automated advisor.

These figures confirm that trust and personalization far outweigh the promise of savings or algorithmic speed. Clients primarily expect a quality human relationship from an advisor.

For them, a good professional must know how to listen and understand specific needs, offer tailored support, and provide a comprehensive view of the financial situation, much more than just excelling in the technical aspect.

In short, even in the era of everything digital, it is the deeply human qualities—empathy, pedagogy, the ability to inspire trust—that make the difference in the eyes of clients.

Moreover, satisfaction with human advisors reaches eloquent levels. In a survey conducted by the Quebec Financial Security Board, 82% of clients rate their experience with an advisor as positive, a "truly exceptional" rate, emphasizes its president. The population thus maintains a very favorable image of these professionals, proving that their usefulness is far from fading.

Rather than opposing each other, artificial intelligence and human intelligence have every interest in collaborating. The financial sector is seeing the emergence of the augmented advisor, who uses AI tools not to fade away, but to enhance their efficiency and availability.

Very concretely, the machine can take on a large number of repetitive or technical tasks, thus freeing up time for the advisor.

Instant analysis of vast databases, execution of standardized orders, 24/7 market monitoring, automated report generation... These are all functions in which AI excels and can be delegated to algorithms.

Already, the digitization of account openings, regulatory reporting, or portfolio rebalancing has helped lighten the administrative burden on advisors.

At the same time, humans can focus on high-value interactions: deeply understanding their client's situation, developing a financial strategy aligned with their life projects, explaining investment choices in clear and educational terms, or adjusting allocations based on personal changes (marriage, retirement, unforeseen events...).

Ultimately, interactions gain in quality without sacrificing operational responsiveness. The augmented advisor benefits from a more complete and faster vision thanks to the tools, enriching their advice while enhancing their human skills.

This human-machine alliance directly meets the expectations of an increasingly demanding clientele. Today's clients want the best of both worlds: technology for speed and "omnichannel" service; humans for personalized support and trust.

An advisor equipped with effective AI tools could, for example, send proactive alerts in case of significant market movements while taking the time to call their most affected clients to reassure them or adjust the strategy if necessary.

Far from a "generic" automated advice, we are moving towards a hybrid advice model where AI handles the mass of information and calculations, and humans focus on interpretation and relationships.

Finally, a successful collaboration between humans and machines requires gradual cultural adaptation and appropriate training for advisors.

The most successful companies in this field are those that involve their employees from the design stage of digital tools, thus highlighting a new role: that of the "augmented advisor," who is both human, ethical, and tech-savvy.

Ultimately, the rise of intelligent agents does not herald the disappearance of human advice, but rather its beneficial transformation.