Human Financial Advice in the Age of Automation by Fiona Greig, Tarun Ramadorai, Alberto G. Rossi, Stephen P. Utkus, Ansgar Walther

Authors: ...
 24th Dec 2022  SSRN
Posted by Alumni
June 4, 2025

Behavioral & Experimental Finance

Wealth Management

Microeconomics: Search; Learning; Information Costs & Specific Knowledge; Expectation & Speculation

Household Finance

Investing

Information Systems & Economics

Retirement Planning

Decision-Making in Economics & Finance

Computation Theory

Decision-Making in Computational Design & Technology

We analyze a unique hybrid robo-advisory setting where portfolio management is automated, but clients are quasi-randomly assigned to human financial advisors who deliver all remaining wealth management services, including behavioral coaching and relationship support. We show that advisors of different types cause variation in client retention, especially during market downturns. To interpret these effects, we estimate a structural model in which advisors influence both investor learning about the automated solution and the perceived utility of remaining enrolled, independent of performance. Effective human advisors generate significant surplus for both clients and the firm through these informational and behavioral channels. learn more on SSRN
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Fintech Innovation
Fintech Innovation
Fintech Innovation