Why the Future of Financial Advice Is Human-Led and AI-Enabled with Michael Liersch
Tue Feb 03 2026
This week, Jack Sharry talks with Michael Liersch, Chief Planning Officer at Edelman Financial Engines. Michael acts as the production arm at Edelman. He leads the firm's strategic agenda around the convergence of financial planning, advice, technology, operations, investment solutions, and user experience. With a distinguished career spanning academia and financial services, Michael is also known for integrating behavioral insights into financial strategy.
Michael talks with Jack about how artificial intelligence and automation are reshaping financial advice, not as a replacement for humans, but as a force multiplier for listening, building trust, and improving outcomes. He also discusses the phases of AI integration, the risks of "over-AI-ing" the client experience, and his vision for a future in which advice itself, rather than products, is the industry's core value proposition.
In this episode:
(00:00) - Intro
(02:18) - Michael's role at Edelman Financial Engine
(04:04) - Michael's psychological perspective on AI
(08:51) - Edelman's practical application of AI
(15:55) - How Edelman uses AI at scale
(21:49) - Protecting clients from “over-AI-ing”
(25:30) - Michael's outlook on the future of AI in financial services
(29:54) - Michael's goal for the financial industry
(34:37) - Michael's interests outside of work
Quotes
"We are in a truly new and unique era, recognizing that machines, you can call that AI, and humans can complement each other." ~ Michael Liersch
"What's interesting about the machine is that it doesn't really have any of its own feelings. But it really does a great job of giving itself entirely to the human and achieving a level of precision that humans find challenging." ~ Michael Liersch
"I really want to move the financial industry toward having advice be the actual product." ~ Michael Liersch
Links
Michael Liersch on LinkedIn
Edelman Financial Engines
Connect with our hosts
LifeYield
Jack Sharry on LinkedIn
Jack Sharry on Twitter
Subscribe and stay in touch
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
LinkedIn
Twitter
Facebook
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This week, Jack Sharry talks with Michael Liersch, Chief Planning Officer at Edelman Financial Engines. Michael acts as the production arm at Edelman. He leads the firm's strategic agenda around the convergence of financial planning, advice, technology, operations, investment solutions, and user experience. With a distinguished career spanning academia and financial services, Michael is also known for integrating behavioral insights into financial strategy. Michael talks with Jack about how artificial intelligence and automation are reshaping financial advice, not as a replacement for humans, but as a force multiplier for listening, building trust, and improving outcomes. He also discusses the phases of AI integration, the risks of "over-AI-ing" the client experience, and his vision for a future in which advice itself, rather than products, is the industry's core value proposition. In this episode: (00:00) - Intro (02:18) - Michael's role at Edelman Financial Engine (04:04) - Michael's psychological perspective on AI (08:51) - Edelman's practical application of AI (15:55) - How Edelman uses AI at scale (21:49) - Protecting clients from “over-AI-ing” (25:30) - Michael's outlook on the future of AI in financial services (29:54) - Michael's goal for the financial industry (34:37) - Michael's interests outside of work Quotes "We are in a truly new and unique era, recognizing that machines, you can call that AI, and humans can complement each other." ~ Michael Liersch "What's interesting about the machine is that it doesn't really have any of its own feelings. But it really does a great job of giving itself entirely to the human and achieving a level of precision that humans find challenging." ~ Michael Liersch "I really want to move the financial industry toward having advice be the actual product." ~ Michael Liersch Links Michael Liersch on LinkedIn Edelman Financial Engines Connect with our hosts LifeYield Jack Sharry on LinkedIn Jack Sharry on Twitter Subscribe and stay in touch Apple Podcasts Spotify LinkedIn Twitter Facebook