DIY investing: Why Americans are skipping financial advisors in 2026

But there are signs of friction. A clear majority say the number of financial choices available is overwhelming: 21% strongly agree and 42% agree. Only 9% disagree or strongly disagree.

This suggests that many DIY investors like learning about investing and want control over their decisions, but the volume of information available can itself become a challenge.

When it comes to how actively they manage their portfolios, 34% say they make changes to their investments when market and economic conditions change. A slightly smaller share, 29%, disagree or strongly disagree, while 33% neither agree nor disagree.

A third also say investing platforms are easy to use, including 8% who strongly agree and 25% who agree.

AI in DIY investing is yet to gain prominence

AI is not yet a dominant source of investment information among DIY investors, but it has gained some visibility. As noted earlier, 14% say they use AI tools, agents or chatbots to find out about investments. Separately, 10% say one reason they invest without a financial advisor is that they can use AI to help with planning or making financial decisions.

Attitudes toward AI are still developing. Around a quarter of DIY investors say AI is a valuable tool in creating and updating their investment strategy, with 7% strongly agreeing and 19% agreeing. But there is also a sizeable middle: 34% neither agree nor disagree, while 13% say they do not know. Another 27% disagree or strongly disagree.