Canadian Investors Want People, Not Just Technology, Behind Investment Decisions

EmitenTrust.com New RIA Investor Pulse Check finds attitudes toward AI vary considerably by age, while investors show broad interest in energy security, domestic manufacturing and critical minerals

TORONTO, Oct. 8, 2026 /CNW/ -- Canadian investors place a premium on the human element when it comes to both financial advice and the use of artificial intelligence, according to new research from the Responsible Investment Association (RIA).

The Fall 2026 RIA Investor Pulse Check finds that human oversight is the leading factor investors identify as important to their comfort with AI-supported investment decisions, at 42%, followed closely by protection of personal information at 41% and access to a human advisor at 40%. Nearly 3 in 10 investors (29%) say they would not be comfortable with AI being used to support their investment decisions at all.

Beneath the overall number is a striking difference by age. Among investors aged 55 and older, 43% say they would not be comfortable with AI supporting their investment decisions, compared with 24% of investors aged 35 to 54 and just 15% of those aged 18 to 34.

"These findings show that investors still want people in the picture when AI is used to support investment decisions," said Patricia Fletcher, CEO of the Responsible Investment Association. "Human oversight, privacy and access to an advisor all matter to investor comfort with AI. As the industry adopts new tools, the opportunity is not simply to introduce more technology, but to use it in ways that preserve the trust and human connection investors value."

The findings are part of the second RIA Investor Pulse Check, a recurring research series produced as part of the Responsible Investment Research Initiative to provide more frequent snapshots of Canadian investor sentiment between the RIA's larger annual studies.

Key Findings

• The fundamentals of financial advice matter more than technology. Understanding financial goals (68%) and clearly explaining risks and opportunities (65%) top the factors investors consider very important when choosing an advisor. By comparison, only 17% say an advisor's use of technology or AI is very important.
• Investors want human involvement when AI supports investment decisions. Human oversight (42%), protection of personal information (41%) and access to a human advisor (40%) are the leading factors investors identify as important to their comfort with AI-supported investment decisions. Comfort also varies considerably by age, with 43% of investors aged 55 and older saying they would not be comfortable with AI supporting their investment decisions, compared with 15% of those aged 18 to 34.
• Investors express interest across a range of strategic investment opportunities, although interest tends to be moderate rather than strong. At least half express interest in allocating a portion of their portfolios to every area tested, led by energy security (65%), domestic manufacturing and supply chains (64%) and critical minerals (62%).
• Economic pressures remain the leading influences on investment decisions. Inflation leads at 43%, followed by affordability at 37%, Canada's economic resilience at 30% and global geopolitical uncertainty at 29%. Inflation is cited by 55% of investors aged 18 to 34, compared with 34% of those aged 55 and older.

Strategic investment interests vary across the country

Looking beyond the national results, there are some notable regional differences in the strategic investment opportunities that interest investors. Interest in critical minerals is 67% in British Columbia and 65% in Ontario, compared with 49% in Quebec. For advanced technologies, the pattern reverses, with interest highest in Quebec at 61%, compared with 55% in Ontario and 46% in British Columbia.

Domestic manufacturing and supply chains, however, attracts relatively broad-based interest, with relatively consistent levels across British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec.

"There is interest across every area we tested, but the findings also show important differences in what resonates most with investors," Fletcher said. "Energy security, domestic manufacturing and critical minerals are among the areas attracting the most interest nationally, while the regional results reinforce that investors across the country do not necessarily see the same opportunities in the same way."

About the RIA Investor Pulse Check

The Investor Pulse Check series complements the Responsible Investment Research Initiative's flagship studies, including the Canadian Responsible Investment Trends Report, Investor Opinion Survey and Advisor RI Insights Study, by providing more frequent perspectives on emerging trends and market developments.

Short video discussions highlighting key findings from the Fall 2026 Investor Pulse Check were also released today.

To access the Investor Pulse Check and accompanying videos, visit www.ri-research-initiative.ca.

Future Investor Pulse Checks will continue to explore emerging issues influencing investor sentiment, investment preferences and responsible investment in Canada.

The Responsible Investment Association gratefully acknowledges the support of the Responsible Investment Research Initiative partners, Addenda Capital, Desjardins, Mackenzie Investments, National Bank Investments, RBC Global Asset Management and TD Asset Management, whose ongoing commitment helps advance this important research.

Methodology

The Fall 2026 Pulse Check is based on an Ipsos poll of 1,001 Canadian individual investors conducted between August 11 and August 17, 2026. Investors are defined as individuals who currently own investments such as mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, stocks, bonds or other securities. The poll has a Bayesian credibility interval of ±3.5%.

About the Responsible Investment Research Initiative

The Responsible Investment Research Initiative, a program of the Responsible Investment Association (RIA), delivers objective, data-driven research spanning the full spectrum of responsible investment in Canada through a suite of complementary studies and reports.

The Initiative and production of its research are generously supported by partners Addenda Capital, Desjardins, Mackenzie Investments, National Bank Investments, RBC Global Asset Management and TD Asset Management.

Learn more at www.ri-research-initiative.ca.

About the Responsible Investment Association

The Responsible Investment Association (RIA) is Canada's investment industry association with a purpose of entrenching responsible investment in Canada's financial ecosystem. The RIA's membership includes asset managers, asset owners, advisors and service providers. Institutional members collectively manage more than $47 trillion in assets globally.

Learn more at www.riacanada.ca.

SOURCE Responsible Investment Association