Good morning.
A while back, AI changed the way I manage my own money. Not because it gave me better answers, but because it kept surfacing questions I had never thought to ask. That is exactly what this tutorial shows you how to do. Four steps. Takes ten minutes.
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AI TUTORIAL
How to Use AI to Research Your Next Investment Decision
Have you ever had a feeling about a stock (or mutual fund)?
You have watched the company for months. You like what you see. You are ready to move. Then someone asks you one question: "Did you look at the earnings trend over the last four quarters?"
And you realize you had not.
That one question can save you from a decision you would regret. Most people do not have someone in their corner who will stop them and ask it. Most investment decisions never get that kind of pressure-test.
That is exactly what AI can do for you.
Researchers at Stanford built an AI analyst and gave it 30 years of real market data. It analyzed more than 3,300 mutual funds, adjusting portfolios quarterly using only publicly available information. The result: it outperformed 93% of human fund managers, by an average of 600% over that period. A separate Harvard study found a machine learning model could predict 71% of all mutual fund trading decisions, whether to buy, sell, or hold.
The reason most investors fall short is not bad stock picks. A 2025 Dalbar report found the average equity investor underperformed the S&P 500 by 8.5% last year, mostly because of emotional decisions: panic selling, chasing trends, and buying high because something felt right. AI does not have those reactions. It does not watch financial news at midnight and regret it by morning.
You are not building an algorithm. But you can borrow the same idea: run your thinking through AI before you act, and let it find what you missed.
Step 1: Give AI your full situation, not just the investment
The most common mistake is asking AI about an investment without context. Your age, your timeline, how much of your total portfolio this represents, your comfort with risk. Without that, the response is generic. With it, you get something that actually applies to you. If you're not sure what those numbers are, Empower is a free dashboard that puts your complete financial picture in one place.
Start with: "I'm [age], and I'm considering putting [X% of my portfolio] into [investment]. My timeline is [X years] and I'd describe myself as a [conservative/moderate/aggressive] investor. What should I know before I decide?"
Step 2: Ask it to argue the other side
After AI gives you a positive case, push back. This is the step most people skip.
"Now give me the strongest argument against this investment. What risks do typical investors underestimate?"
This is where the research advantage shows up. AI will surface things you were not looking for because you were hoping for a yes.
Step 3: Challenge your own logic
Ask AI to question your reasoning, not just provide data.
"Here is why I want to make this move: [your reason]. Does that logic hold up? What am I assuming that might not be true?"
This is the emotional check. The part of your decision the Stanford researchers found costs investors the most.
Step 4: Build your question list for a real advisor
AI is a research tool, not a licensed financial advisor, and should not be your final word on serious money. But it is very good at helping you prepare for the conversation that should be.
"Based on what we discussed, what are the three most important questions I should bring to my financial advisor before I proceed?"
You walk in sharper. The appointment goes further.
Want to try this yourself?
I'm [your age]. I'm considering [describe the investment or decision]. My situation: [briefly describe your timeline, risk tolerance, and what this represents in your overall finances]. Give me the strongest case for and against this decision. Then tell me the three questions I should bring to my financial advisor.
AI will not know your full picture or replace a professional for major decisions. Think of it as the most well-read research assistant you have ever had. One that has no agenda, no commissions, and no interest in telling you what you want to hear.
That is exactly the kind of pressure-test most investment decisions never get.
This week: pick one investment you have been thinking about, drop that prompt in any AI tool, and see what comes back. Takes ten minutes.
READER POLL
Have you ever used AI to help research a financial decision?
WHERE TO GO NEXT
More on this topic, from sources worth your time:
Is Your Retirement on Track? Use AI to Discover Your "Magic Number". A step-by-step tutorial for using AI to calculate your retirement number and see where you actually stand.
De-Risking vs. Growth: Finding the Right Asset Allocation in Your Late 40s-60s. How to use AI to think through how your investment mix should shift as retirement gets closer.
Empower (Personal Capital). A free financial dashboard that connects all your accounts in one place, a good first step before any major investment decision.
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