GoHenry Research Reveals 40% of Kids and Teens Now Use AI for Financial Advice

New research reveals that 40% of young people aged 6-18 are now using AI for financial advice, making it the second most trusted source of money management information after parents. This shift highlights a significant gap between traditional financial education and the digital-first habits of the next generation of consumers.

What was announced

GoHenry’s "Kids’ Eye View of AI" research highlights a rapid adoption of generative tools among "Gen Z" and "Gen A." One in four 10-year-olds now consults AI for financial guidance at least once a week. The technology is outranking teachers, friends, and social media in terms of trust. Beyond theoretical advice, 37% of those surveyed use AI to actively help them earn money or pocket money, generating an average of £27.89 per person. Furthermore, 29% are leveraging these tools to launch side hustles or manage small businesses.

Specific use cases for AI-driven financial advice include smart shopping (39%), earning strategies (36%), and setting savings goals (34%). While 19% have sought advice on investing, a gender gap is emerging, with 22% of boys seeking AI investment help compared to 15% of girls. Despite this enthusiasm, parental friction remains; 36% of children report their parents do not support their AI usage, and 9% admit to using it without their parents' knowledge.

This disconnect comes as 36% of young people express anxiety about AI’s impact on their future careers. When asked which skills would best prepare them for adulthood, financial education ranked first (34%), followed by traditional school subjects (28%), with AI and coding tied for third place at 27%. A significant 73% of respondents agree that learning about AI in school would help them better navigate the risks and benefits of digital financial tools.

"The growth of AI shows no signs of slowing, so we wanted to give Gen Z and Gen A a voice as it’s their futures that could be impacted the most. Unsurprisingly, many of these young digital natives have embraced AI. However, it’s clear from our research that there is a gap between how kids are using AI, the current education system and their parents’ comfort levels. There is an opportunity here to modernise learning - empowering children and parents alike with the tools to use AI effectively and safely."

Louise Hill, Founder and Executive Chair at GoHenry

The companies involved

GoHenry is a financial technology company focused on youth money management, providing a mobile app and debit card designed to teach children how to earn, save, and spend responsibly. The company operates as a subsidiary of Acorns, the US-based saving and investing platform, following an acquisition aimed at expanding youth financial literacy tools globally. In a significant market move, Barclays completed its own acquisition of GoHenry in late 2026 to scale youth financial education within the UK market.

This positioning places GoHenry at the intersection of traditional banking infrastructure and modern fintech innovation. The platform has become a prominent player in the "pocket money" app sector, competing by offering structured financial education alongside practical spending tools. By integrating educational modules with real-world financial utility, the firm seeks to address the lack of formal financial literacy in schools. Its leadership, including Louise Hill, has frequently advocated for policy changes to modernise how children interact with digital finance and emerging technologies like AI.

What FF News has reported before

FF News has closely followed GoHenry’s role in the evolving youth banking sector. We recently covered how Barclays Completes Acquisition of GoHenry to Scale Youth Financial Education in the UK, a move that integrated the startup’s capabilities into one of Britain’s largest high-street banks. Prior to this, we highlighted the company's economic research in Early Investment Education Could Boost UK Economy by £53.5bn Annually, GoHenry Study Reveals. Additionally, our reporting on the broader regulatory environment includes Innovate Finance Urges UK Action on Open Finance and AI to Secure FinTech Lead, which underscored the industry-wide push for clearer policies regarding AI adoption in financial services.

What this means

The fact that AI has surpassed teachers and social media as a trusted financial resource marks a pivot point for the fintech industry. It suggests that the "advice gap" for younger demographics is being filled by Large Language Models rather than regulated professionals or traditional institutions. This creates a dual-edged sword for the sector: while AI lowers the barrier to financial literacy, it also introduces significant risks regarding the accuracy of unverified advice. Financial institutions now face pressure to either integrate AI-driven guidance into their own platforms or risk losing the next generation of customers to third-party tools that are already becoming their primary interface for money management.