Eduard Hamamjian

US financial tools were largely built for steady W-2 paychecks, while more Americans now juggle scattered income streams that older product designs do not fit.
A financial health survey found AI use for money advice reached ~10%, versus high-single digits a year earlier and low-single digits two years earlier.
A nonprofit said AI-assistant referrals tripled, and those clients averaged >$40K unsecured debt, underscoring why financial guidance tools should be judged by real outcomes.
The proposed playbook: show a transparent, unified money picture, optimize for users’ best interests, and keep human help reachable for complex decisions.
With many Americans still not financially healthy, the next AI wave was framed as needing to scale positive outcomes, not just easier access.

AI Must Prove Outcomes

A $2M IRA created a first RMD of $75.5K; with $34K of taxable Social Security, MAGI landed ~$0.5K above $109K for singles.
Crossing that line by $0.47K raised annual Medicare costs ~$1.1K, because the surcharge repriced the full year, using tax returns from two years earlier.
Delaying the first RMD to April 1 offered flexibility, but it could stack two withdrawals into one year and push MAGI near $185K.
Roth conversions in pre-RMD years can shrink future withdrawals. Reducing the IRA to $1.5M would have lowered the first RMD to ~$56.6K and MAGI ~$90.6K.
QCDs starting at 70½ can satisfy RMDs without adding income; even a $0.5K gift helped. Also watch municipal interest, capital gains, and age-63 planning.