76% of Singapore Wealthy Use AI for Investing, But Advisors Stay Central: HSBC

A new study by HSBC has revealed a nuanced relationship between Singapore’s wealthy investors and artificial intelligence: while 76 percent of mass affluent and high-net-worth individuals use AI for financial research and investment decisions, the vast majority still seek human validation before committing capital. The findings, based on a survey of 609 respondents commissioned by HSBC and conducted by Ipsos, paint a picture of AI as a powerful supplement rather than a replacement for professional wealth advisory.

Among those using AI, 69 percent rely on it for research and analysis, 44 percent for strategy support, and 34 percent to stress-test their own investment ideas. After turning to AI, 79 percent of users said they bring their findings to a professional advisor for reassurance, while 71 percent seek strategic expertise. Crucially, Singapore’s wealthiest respondents attributed an average of 40 percent of their investment returns over the past 12 months to AI influence — a striking figure that underscores how embedded AI tools have become in the city-state’s wealth management ecosystem.

The study reveals that two-thirds of respondents say AI makes them feel more in control of their finances. A hybrid approach is the preferred model: 40 percent favour a mix of AI and human advice, while 57 percent want AI and advisors working together collaboratively. Only 8 percent of Singapore investors said AI was ‘the single most influential source’ of their last major investment decision — notably lower than the global average of 12 percent, suggesting Singapore’s wealthy remain more cautious than their global peers about ceding decision-making to algorithms.

HSBC defined mass affluent as those with investable assets between S$100,000 and S$2 million, and high-net-worth individuals as those with over S$2 million. The study comes as Singapore’s wealth management industry undergoes rapid digitisation, with banks and fintechs racing to integrate AI tools into advisory platforms while maintaining the human touch that high-value clients expect.

Why it matters for Singapore: Singapore’s position as Asia’s leading wealth management hub — with S$5.4 trillion in assets under management — means the AI-advisor dynamic is more than just a consumer trend; it is a structural shift in how financial services operate in the city-state. The data suggests Singapore’s investors want the analytical power of AI without losing the trust and judgement of human advisors. For banks like DBS, OCBC, and UOB, and for the broader fintech ecosystem, the challenge is building AI tools that augment rather than alienate. The hybrid model that Singapore’s wealthy prefer may well become the template for wealth management across Asia.