AI and the Future of Financial Careers: How Do Your Views Compare with Test Takers?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing how people learn. Finance professionals studying for a certification or designation can ask AI to explain a concept, work through a problem, or test their understanding. But what do learners actually want from this assistance and how much do they trust it?

For HR and L&D leaders, a critical question emerges: Are employers and learners viewing AI sentiment similarly?

In a 2026 Kaplan survey, current and recent test preparers shared their views on AI’s role in learning and future employment. The three polls below represent questions given to candidates preparing for CFA^®, CFP^®, securities, and insurance exams.

Now it’s your turn. Answer each poll question from your own perspective and then compare your responses to those given by test preparers in the Kaplan survey. How do your views align? Where do they differ?

When a Practice Question Gets Difficult, What Should AI Do?

Imagine a learner midway through a practice exam. The concept still isn’t clicking. They could ask AI for the answer. Or they could ask for a hint, an explanation, or guidance. While one approach gets them past the question, the other may help them apply the lesson on the actual exam.

For employers investing in licensing and certification, that distinction matters. Passing an exam is one milestone but developing knowledge that carries into client conversations, compliance decisions, and everyday judgment is the ultimate goal.

As AI becomes a more familiar part of exam preparation, understanding what learners expect from these tools can help HR and L&D leaders make more informed decisions about learning resources and support.

What would you expect from AI when a practice question stops you in your tracks?

Who Do You Trust with High-Stakes Test Preparation? 

AI can respond at any hour to explain a concept in several ways. Human instructors, meanwhile, bring experience, context, and an understanding of when a learner needs something beyond just other explanations. 

For high-stakes licensing and credential exams, trust can be as important as access. A convincing response isn’t necessarily an accurate one. Learners need to know when to question an answer, check a source, or turn to an expert. 

This raises a practical question about technology and human support. Where does each offer the most value? And how can learning programs make room for both without assuming every learner wants the same thing?

The answer has implications for how organizations balance AI-powered tools with human instruction, coaching, and other learning resources.

Would you put your trust in AI, a human instructor, or both?

What Will AI Mean for Future Job Opportunities?

For someone preparing for a financial credential, the question is not abstract. They are investing time and resources in qualifications they hope will move their careers forward. Meanwhile, AI is changing how financial professionals research, analyze information, and serve clients. 

Will those changes create opportunities, reduce them, or produce a mix of both? The answer may shape how people think about career progression and which skills they pursue next.

Employers have a stake in that outlook. An employee who sees possibilities in AI may approach learning differently from someone who sees primarily uncertainty. While neither perception predicts what will happen, both deserve attention. 

For HR and L&D leaders, understanding these attitudes is an important part of preparing employees for changing roles, responsibilities, and career opportunities. 

How do you think AI will affect future job opportunities?

Where These Comparisons Can Lead

Three questions won’t settle the debate about AI in professional credential test preparation. They can, however, reveal assumptions worth questioning.

If your answers differ from those of recent test preparers Kaplan surveyed, what might that mean for learning design, instructor support, AI literacy, or career development? Conversely, if they align, how can employers build on that shared outlook?  

The opportunity for HR and L&D leaders is not simply to introduce more technology into professional learning. It is to understand what learners expect, whom they trust, and how AI fits into the careers they are working to build. 

Mark your calendars for the full results of this survey in early 2027, including data cuts across CFA, CFP^®, securities, and insurance exams.