Financial Advisors Judge ChatGPT’s Advice on the Best Uses of Your Money
Written by
Gabriel Vito
Edited by
Brendan McGinley
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“What’s the best thing you can do with your money?”
It’s a fair question, no matter how strong your finances are. And many people are now asking it of AI instead of a financial adviser. So I posed it to ChatGPT to see what kind of money advice the LLM would give.
ChatGPT’s Plan To Max Out Your Money
ChatGPT’s answer was what you’d expect:
- Build an emergency fund
- Pay off high-interest debt
- Invest early
- Stick to index funds
- Spend less than you earn
- Avoid impulse buys
- Keep learning about personal finance
But how practical is that advice in 2025? To find out, I shared ChatGPT’s answers with financial experts across and asked them how the suggestions hold up against real-world conditions.
The Rules Still Work — But the World Changed
Every expert I spoke to agreed that ChatGPT’s list covers the foundational habits of financial health. Sharad Gondaliya, a dual-certified CPA and finance expert, said he agrees “with nearly every point ChatGPT made, and I’d say those fundamentals are timeless.”
But he also said the way people apply that advice has to change with the times. For example, ChatGPT recommends saving three to six months of living expenses for emergencies. Gondaliya now advises clients to build six to 12 months instead, especially for those with families or unstable income.
On investing, he agreed index funds are a great starting point but noted that “bonds are finally paying real yields again, which means diversification matters more now than it did five years ago.”
In other words, the playbook still works, but the market has moved. A smart money plan today looks a little different than it did before inflation, higher interest rates and volatile markets entered the picture. AI can give you the basics, but when the economy shifts (and it always does), it’s best to have a real-life financial advisor by your side.
When General Advice Doesn’t Fit Real Life
Another shared concern among the experts is that ChatGPT’s advice is too generalized to be useful for everyone.
“ChatGPT’s recommendations are great one-size-fits-all mantras that can encourage better saving habits,” said Iván Marchena, senior economist at Just2Trade. “But no two people’s circumstances are the same, and their personal finance requirements are likely to be wildly different.”
Robert R. Johnson, professor of finance at Creighton University, had the same reaction. He agreed with ChatGPT’s list but said “the key to developing strong finances is balancing those competing objectives.” He pointed out that some people focus on paying down debt but miss out on an employer 401(k) match, which he called “perhaps the worst financial mistake anyone can make” because it turns down free money.
The Problem With Playing It Too Safe
Some experts also suggested that ChatGPT is too cautious, which is an understandable limitation for a tool that has to give out risk-free advice.
“ChatGPT is trained on data samples of published writing, so its advice is rooted in the most common ideas, not necessarily the best,” said Asher Rogovy, chief investment officer at Magnifina. He believes the idea of a traditional emergency fund is outdated now that many people have instant access to cash or low-cost credit.
Joey Isaacson, co-founder of Nook, reframed the question entirely.
“Really, the question to ask is: ‘Chat, how would you earn more with my money?'” he said. He pointed out that moving idle funds into high-yield savings “can add several percentage points of return without new risk.”
So, Can You Trust AI With Your Money?
ChatGPT’s advice is a solid place to start. It covers the essential habits most people need to build wealth, and even the professionals agreed on that. But experts advise against oversimplifying your personal finances.
“When we get sick we go to the doctor. When we get into legal trouble we hire a lawyer. Yet, somehow people believe that they should be able to navigate the ever increasingly perilous financial waters without professional help,” Johnson said.
AI can give you the basics. It can even help you have educated conversations with your financial advisor. But at the end of the day, it’s wisest to talk to a professional who can personalize a strategy for your situation.
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