Podcast Summary: Cracking the AI Code for CPA Financial Planners

Podcast: AICPA Personal Financial Planning (PFP)
Episode Title: Cracking the AI Code for CPA Financial Planners
Date: December 26, 2025
Host: Carrie Sinnett (Manager, PFS Credential, AICPA)
Guest: Dr. Brianne Smith (CPA, Financial Planner, Accounting Professor at Auburn University)
Length: ~20 minutes

Episode Overview

This episode explores the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI) in personal financial planning for CPAs. Host Carrie Sinnett is joined by Dr. Brianne Smith, a practitioner and educator with over 25 years of experience. Together, they discuss how AI is reshaping the profession, practical considerations when evaluating tools, strategies for adoption, and ways for practitioners to build genuine AI literacy while balancing curiosity and caution.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Defining the AI Landscape for CPA Financial Planners

• AI vs. Automation
  • Dr. Smith distinguishes between traditional automation (rules-based, follows scripts) and true AI (learned inference, generates new insights).
    • Quote (Dr. Smith, 04:26):
      "Automation is following a script and AI gives you a paragraph that you didn't give it."
  • She advises planners to think in terms of workflows, leveraging automation and AI where each fits best.
  • Automation is ideal for repetitive, structured tasks, whereas AI is better for tasks involving ambiguity and inference.
• Notable Example:
  Automation processes a tax return for data entry; AI can analyze the same document and surface trends or suggest next steps.

2. Current Use Cases Transforming Practice

• Document Intelligence
  • AI is increasingly used to analyze and summarize complex documents like statements, tax returns, and estate plans.
  • Provides actionable insights and reduces the time spent combing through lengthy documentation.
• Meeting Follow-ups and CRM Integration
  • AI can transcribe advisor-client meetings, extract promised action items, and input them into CRM systems with reminders.
    • Quote (Dr. Smith, 06:32):
      "...moving from documenting the meeting to what I promised and action steps directly into our CRM with due dates..."
• Investment Management
  • AI assists in comparing investment strategies, building portfolios, and translating technical analyses into client-friendly language.

3. Ensuring Quality & Trust in AI Outputs

• Human-in-the-loop
  • Dr. Smith stresses the importance of reviewing and supervising AI-generated outputs:
    • Quote (Dr. Smith, 08:13):
      "You definitely have to be the supervisor of the technology."
  • Practitioners should verify AI-generated summaries and communicate investment concepts in relatable terms.
  • Maintain client-centered communication and avoid over-reliance on AI-generated advice.

4. Evaluating Fit, Risk & ROI: A Structured Approach

• Identifying Pain Points
  • Begin by identifying bottlenecks ("road bumps") in practice, then see where automation or AI could help.
• Role Mapping
  • Dr. Smith introduces “role mapping”—visualizing responsibilities and categorizing tasks (keep, delegate, or automate).
    • Assign green for tasks to keep, yellow for those to eventually delegate, red for immediate delegation or automation.
    • Quote (Dr. Smith, 12:00):
      "...role mapping...is a visualization of what your responsibilities are. And I like to color them red, green and yellow..."
• Incremental Implementation
  • Don’t try to implement everything at once; be intentional in testing and adopting AI for specific workflows.

5. Developing Genuine AI Literacy

• Beyond Tool Adoption
  • True AI literacy means explaining technology in plain English, knowing how to prompt and review AI systems, and maintaining audit trails.
• Sandbox vs. Production
  • Encourage practicing in a “sandbox” (test environment) before deploying AI in real client-facing workflows.
    • Quote (Dr. Smith, 15:33):
      "...you've got the sandbox space where you can not generate client facing materials...and then you can also do the production side..."
• Balancing Curiosity with Caution
  • Stay curious and experimental, but always uphold disclosure, documentation, and supervisory responsibilities.

6. Staying Future-Ready & Continuous Learning

• Role of Technology & the Next Generation
  • Dr. Smith acknowledges how hard it is to keep pace with emerging tech, even as an experienced professional and educator.
    • Quote (Dr. Smith, 17:44):
      "...I have never before had a more difficult time keeping up. And I am working really hard at it."
  • Importance of bringing up next-gen planners who are natively comfortable with new tech.
  • Practitioners must integrate technological learning into their professional roles—just like prior generations adapted to digitization.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Defining Automation vs. AI:
  "Automation is following a script and AI gives you a paragraph that you didn't give it."
  — Dr. Brianne Smith (04:26)

• On Supervision:
  "You definitely have to be the supervisor of the technology."
  — Dr. Brianne Smith (08:13)

• On Role Mapping:
  "...role mapping...is a visualization of what your responsibilities are. And I like to color them red, green and yellow..."
  — Dr. Brianne Smith (12:00)

• On Keeping Up:
  "...I have never before had a more difficult time keeping up. And I am working really hard at it."
  — Dr. Brianne Smith (17:44)

Timestamps of Key Segments

• 03:14 — How to think about AI in financial planning: AI vs. automation
• 05:33 — Use cases: Document intelligence, meeting follow-up, investment management
• 07:56 — Supervision and trust: Practitioner oversight of AI outputs
• 10:29 — Evaluating fit/risk: Identifying pain points, role mapping explained
• 13:40 — Incremental AI integration: Practical advice on implementation
• 15:04 — What is genuine AI literacy?
• 16:31 — Sandbox vs. Production environments
• 17:41 — Continuous technology learning and adapting for the future

Final Takeaways

• AI is not a replacement but a tool that, when integrated thoughtfully, can enhance efficiency and client relationships for CPA financial planners.
• Supervision and intentionality are key: CPAs must stay involved in reviewing AI outputs and implementing technology gradually.
• Building AI literacy includes not just technical know-how but ethical responsibility, documentation, and a client-centered mindset.
• The profession is evolving: Like earlier tech shifts, successful adoption means weaving AI into practice, onboarding new generations, and committing to lifelong learning.