Podcast Summary: "Smart Planning with AI: Real-World Strategies with Chris Benson"

Podcast: AICPA Personal Financial Planning (PFP)
Host: Kari Sinnett, AICPA & CIMA
Guest: Chris Benson, LK Benson & Company
Release Date: November 14, 2025
Episode Theme: Exploring how financial planners can leverage AI for smarter, more efficient, and enjoyable client service—with a focus on practical real-world strategies, risks, and the evolving AI landscape.

Episode Overview

In this episode, Kari Sinnett sits down with Chris Benson, a tech-forward CPA and financial planner, to discuss his hands-on experiences incorporating AI into daily financial planning work. Chris shares how his experimental mindset has helped him use AI as an "intern" and colleague, accelerating research, brainstorming, and client communication, while also addressing tangible risks and the need for compliance vigilance.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Initial Curiosity and Mindset Shift Toward AI (00:28 – 04:26)

• Chris Benson’s Entry Point: Chris has always been curious about technology, but the rise of ChatGPT in 2022 was a pivotal moment. Initially, he had to consciously force himself to try AI tools instead of his old defaults, like Google searches.
• Quote:

  "It's almost a mind shift change. ...Instead of Googling this, I'm going to go see what [AI tools] have to say." (Chris Benson, 02:30)

• Personal Use Precedes Professional Use: Chris started by using AI for personal tasks—home repair, vacation planning—before translating those practices to his professional life.

2. AI as a Collaborative Partner in Financial Planning (04:26 – 07:54)

• AI as a Brainstorming Partner: Chris likens AI to a colleague or "very smart intern" that helps piece together complex aspects of client situations (tax, investments, estate, insurance).
• Enhanced Efficiency: AI streamlines research-heavy scenarios, reducing turnaround times for complex client questions from hours to minutes.
• Quote:

  "[AI] can now be done in 30 minutes. And maybe my AI helper is putting together a first draft of that client communication." (Chris Benson, 06:32)

• Importance of Human Judgment: AI’s suggestions need to be challenged and refined with a professional’s critical thinking.

3. Real-World Use Cases and Workflow Enhancements (07:54 – 10:49)

• Drafting & Brainstorming Client Communications: Chris uses AI to generate draft responses or topic ideas, although he prefers to personalize final communications himself.
• Research & Analysis: Specialized AI tools trained on tax codes can assist with technical research. Generic AI tools are cross-verified due to the risk of incorrect or unsubstantiated answers.
• Data Analysis & Spreadsheets: AI generates analyses (e.g., evaluating private equity fund returns) and builds spreadsheets, much like an intern might—always requiring review.

4. Evaluating New AI Tools & Staying Current (10:49 – 13:42)

• Managing Overwhelm: Chris acknowledges the relentless pace of AI innovation and the prevalence of “shiny object syndrome.”
• Practical Evaluation: He frequently demos new tools, and if they aren’t yet superior to current processes, he revisits them later.
• Quote:

  "I tend to have, we call it shiny object syndrome, where if I see something new and interesting, I want to jump right in." (Chris Benson, 12:03)

• Affordability & Experimentation: Many tools are low-cost (e.g., ChatGPT Pro at $20/month), encouraging safe experimentation, but full adoption is only after careful vetting.

5. Opportunities, Risks, and Ethical Considerations (14:52 – 19:26)

• Biggest Risks:
  • Compliance: Vigilance is required around client data privacy when using AI tools.
  • Cybersecurity & Impersonation: Risk that AI can be used for fraud (e.g., “deepfake” voices or avatars).
  • Quote:

    “You can get a phone call that looks like it’s from a client...I could have sent my AI avatar in here and you probably wouldn't have known the difference.” (Chris Benson, 16:00 & 16:27)

• Mitigation Strategies: Always verify sensitive communications through multiple channels.
• Adoption Approach: Smart to take "baby steps" rather than overhaul processes overnight; radical shifts rarely happen as quickly as the media implies.
• Techno-Optimism for the Future: Chris is optimistic; he envisions AI deeply integrated in workflow software—delivering relevant real-time insights, making programs smarter and processes more intuitive.
• Quote:

  "Every single program I use I think about, man, it could really be a lot better if we had AI baked into this." (Chris Benson, 19:16)

6. Practical Advice for CPAs & Financial Planners (Throughout)

• Start Small: Begin with easy-to-use, low-risk AI tools.
• Challenge & Verify: Don’t blindly trust outputs; always apply professional judgment.
• Prioritize Compliance: Never upload sensitive client data into general AI tools unless clear on privacy guarantees.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "AI kind of is an expert in everything. It may not be correct about everything quite yet, but it's getting there."
  — Chris Benson (04:49)

• "It's really great to have some person, whether that's AI or...in this case, to bounce ideas off of and to challenge me and to challenge it."
  — Chris Benson (07:22)

• "The AI tools themselves are incredibly inexpensive for what you get out of them."
  — Chris Benson (12:46)

• "The positives...I could see ways that [AI] could evolve and really improve everything we do...But it's going to take time."
  — Chris Benson (19:16)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |------------|-------------------------------------------------------| | 00:28 | Chris Benson describes his first approach to AI | | 04:26 | AI as a collaborative brainstorming partner | | 06:18 | Efficiency gains and practical use cases | | 08:42 | AI’s help in drafting and research | | 10:49 | Overcoming tech overwhelm and choosing tools | | 14:52 | Risks: compliance, cybersecurity, and fraud concerns | | 17:11 | Incremental adoption vs. radical transformation | | 19:16 | Future optimism: AI baked into workflow software |

Tone & Language

The conversation is practical, optimistic, and frank—acknowledging both enthusiasm for AI’s potential and caution toward its risks. Chris’s advice is down-to-earth, reflecting real-world trial and error rather than hype. Kari supports a forward-thinking, yet measured, approach for advisors.

Takeaways for Financial Planners

• AI can be a powerful aid for research, brainstorming, and routine analysis, especially for solo practitioners or small firms.
• Adoption should be incremental: experiment with general tools, keep an eye on compliance, and assess both the utility and risks before fully integrating any new AI software.
• Stay informed but not overwhelmed—pick trusted sources, try demos, and re-evaluate periodically.
• Human expertise and critical thinking remain irreplaceable, especially in client-facing settings.

For more resources on AI and financial planning, explore the AICPA PFP community and consider attending their upcoming symposium for deeper dives into these topics.