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ACCI 2026 Conference

April 13–15, 2026

Hilton Long Beach, Long Beach, CA, USA

IMPORTANT NOTICE: The date, time, and room assignment of YOUR presentation is SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

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G1c Technology-Enabled Financial Help-Seeking Behavior: Consumers’ Use of AI and Financial Planners on Saving for Retirement

Wednesday, April 15, 2026 at 2:45 PM–4:15 PM PDT
Room 1
Short Description

This study examines the effectiveness of artificial intelligence (AI) tools, financial planners, and their combined use in promoting retirement saving behavior among 2,000 state and local government employees. The research introduces the Technology-Enabled Financial Help-Seeking (TEFHS) framework, extending traditional help-seeking theory to incorporate AI-based advice sources. Using logistic regression analysis, we find that all formal advice sources are associated with higher odds of retirement saving compared to using no advice. AI-only users demonstrate 75% higher odds of saving, financial planner-only users show 181% higher odds, and individuals using both sources exhibit 254% higher odds. These patterns support the TEFHS framework’s expectation that AI and human advisors work best when used together rather than in isolation, contributing distinct forms of capital to retirement planning decisions. Results indicate persistent demographic disparities, with women and Black participants showing lower saving rates despite advice access. The findings suggest that AI tools can expand access to retirement guidance for underserved populations while enhancing rather than replacing traditional advisory relationships. This research provides evidence-based insights for practitioners integrating technology into service delivery, policymakers considering AI-enabled employee benefits, and researchers studying technology adoption in financial services.

Type of presentation

Accepted Oral Presentation

Submitter

Eric Ludwig, Ph.D., CFP, RICP, The American College of Financial Services

Authors

Efthymia Antonoudi, University of Georgia
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