Online Tools Used More than Advisers to Start Retirement Planning, per Survey

Retirement planning is becoming more self-directed, with many consumers now turning first to digital tools before seeking professional advice.

Omni Calculator, a Poland-based company that develops online calculation tools, surveyed 694 U.S. respondents this month about their first resource for retirement planning advice and information, and online calculators (cited by 60% of respondents) and retirement platforms and apps (55%) were used more often than financial advisers (24%).

That shift, the researchers stated, does not necessarily diminish the role of advisers but changes when and how they are engaged. Consumers may use calculators to initially estimate savings needs, model scenarios and outline timelines, before consulting with advisers.

“We’ve reached a tipping point where online retirement calculators have become the new front door to financial planning,” said Reyheneh Mansouri, author of the Omni Calculator report, in an email with PLANADVISER. “Clients are arriving more prepared, with the math already done, and are looking for guidance on the ‘why’ and ‘how.’ Success now depends on building on that digital momentum.”

Engagement Lags Behind Trust

Despite this behavioral shift, trust in financial professionals remained strong. In the survey, 59% of respondents said they trusted financial advisers, compared with 51% who expressed trust in online platforms and 43% who reported trusting calculators.

At the same time, relatively few respondents reported having met with an adviser, suggesting a gap between trust and action. Cost, accessibility or uncertainty about when to seek professional guidance may contribute to that divide, according to the report.

Generational differences also emerged. Respondents in Generation X reported the highest use of retirement calculators, with 67% saying they had used one, compared with 58% of surveyed Millennials.

Cautious Interest in AI Tools

The survey also pointed to uneven interest in using artificial intelligence as part of financial planning. While some respondents reported experimenting with AI tools for financial questions, overall trust remained limited.

About 39% said they moderately trusted AI in the context of retirement planning, while just 4% expressed complete trust. At the same time, 84% of respondents said they were aware that AI-generated projections contained errors.

Asked how retirement plan advisers could respond to the growth of AI tools, Mansouri said in her email, “Don’t ignore AI but position calculators as a reliable alternative. … Structured calculators offer a lower–risk complement advisers can confidently recommend.”

Omni Calculator’s findings suggested that, for now, AI is viewed by retirement investors more as a supplementary tool than a primary resource, particularly for long-term financial decisions where accuracy is critical.