Advisor Growth Strategies survey finds 28% of RIA firms plan to add staff because of AI

Advisor Growth Strategies found 28% of RIA firms said AI has led them to plan for more hiring, while 8% said it has led them to plan for less. The figures come from its 2026 Compensation Trends Survey, reported Oct. 14.

Most firms haven't changed course: 32% said AI has not changed their hiring plans and 34% said they are unsure how it will affect them. AGS said the first group has decided its current staffing model holds, while the second is still evaluating what the tools can do in its workflows.

AGS reported advisor hiring rose 15% from its 2025 compensation report, and 74% of firms hired at least one advisor in the past year. AGS said the data shows AI has not slowed firms' search for advisory talent.

Firms planning to hire more gave two reasons. Some expect AI to expand how much each advisor and team can handle and want to add staff to capture that capacity; others plan to hire technology specialists who can select, implement and maintain the firm's tools.

AGS said AI is more likely to augment the tools advisors use than to replace their role in client relationships. “What we're seeing so far is that AI isn't impacting the relationship advisors are building with their clients. It's impacting the work around and enhancing relationship management: meeting prep, note-taking, CRM updates, and developing and refining advice documents,” the firm said.

AGS expects firms to eventually need fewer incremental service and operational professionals as they grow. It cautioned that the sample of firms already acting on AI is small and the picture may look different a year from now.