If you are thinking about using AI tools for your 2026 financial goals, it helps to know what they can and cannot do. This article covers practical steps and common pitfalls. All investing involves risk, including loss of principal.

AI and Investing

AI can summarize large amounts of information quickly, which can help new investors who feel overwhelmed. It can also be wrong. AI-generated information can rely on data that is inaccurate, incomplete, or out of date, and regulators advise against relying solely on it when making investment decisions [1].

Setting Goals for 2026

Clear, specific goals, such as saving for retirement, buying a home, or paying down debt, give you something to measure progress against. AI tools can help explain concepts and track information, but they do not replace your own judgment about your goals.

How Alinea Uses AI

Alinea Invest, Inc. offers a mobile investing app. Investment advisory services are provided by Alinea Advisory Services LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser and a wholly owned subsidiary of Alinea Invest, Inc. SEC registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training.

• Allie. Allie, Alinea’s AI assistant, is available in the Alinea app. It can explain your holdings and market news in plain language, look up prices, charts, and historical returns (with a past-performance disclosure), and share lessons. At your request, Allie can also start a deposit, withdrawal, buy, or sell, and you confirm every transaction before it runs. Allie does not provide investment advice or recommendations, does not make price predictions, and can make mistakes.
• Playlists. Vibe Investing Playlists and Alinea’s researcher Playlists have their weights set by AI on a schedule, with no human review of the changes. Alinea oversees the algorithm and monitors it for anomalies. AI-set weights can be wrong, and themed portfolios may be less diversified and more volatile.
• Model portfolios. Automated Investing does not use AI to choose your portfolio. Alinea assigns you one of four risk-based model portfolios by algorithm from your risk tolerance answers and rebalances monthly.
• Recurring investing. You can set a fixed amount to invest on a schedule, including into individual stocks, an approach known as dollar cost averaging. It does not assure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets.

Steps to Consider

1. Define your goals. Write down what you want to achieve and by when.

2. Understand your risk tolerance. Alinea’s questionnaire asks about your risk tolerance.

3. Choose how to invest. Consider a model portfolio, Playlists, or both, and read how each works.

4. Consider recurring investing. Choose an amount and schedule you are comfortable with.

5. Review periodically. Check in on your holdings and revisit your goals.

Common Pitfalls

• Following AI output blindly. Understand the reasoning behind anything an AI tool says, and verify it.
• Over-adjusting. Changing your plan after every short-term market move can work against a long-term approach.
• Set it and forget it. Review your plan from time to time as your circumstances change.

Brokerage accounts are held at DriveWealth LLC, member FINRA/SIPC, which is not affiliated with Alinea. SIPC protects securities customers of its members up to $500,000 (including $250,000 for claims for cash) if the brokerage firm fails financially. It does not protect against a decline in the market value of your securities [2]. Bank accounts are linked through Plaid, Inc., a third party not affiliated with Alinea, and we do not store your online banking credentials. SSL and 256-bit encryption help protect your data.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a 2026 New Year’s resolution related to investing?

It is a goal you set for the year, such as investing regularly, ideally specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.

How long does it take to see results when using AI for investing?

There is no set timeline, and AI does not assure results. Returns depend on markets and your investments, and they can be negative.

What can AI do well in investing?

AI can summarize information and explain concepts quickly. It can also make mistakes, so check its output against other sources.

What mistakes should I avoid when using AI for investing?

Avoid following AI output without understanding it, over-adjusting based on short-term moves, and treating AI as a guarantee of results.

What can Alinea and Allie do?

Alinea offers model portfolios, Playlists, recurring investing, and Allie, an AI assistant that provides educational information. None of these reduces risk or assures a result.

Disclosure

Advisory services are provided by Alinea Advisory Services LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser and a wholly owned subsidiary of Alinea Invest, Inc. SEC registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Brokerage and custody services are provided by DriveWealth LLC, an unaffiliated registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA/SIPC.

This content is for informational purposes only and is not an offer, solicitation, or recommendation to buy or sell any security. All investing involves risk, including loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Allie is educational only, does not provide investment advice, and can make mistakes. Some Playlists have their weights set by AI on a schedule, with no human review of the changes, and can be wrong. Alinea oversees the algorithm and monitors it for anomalies. Themed portfolios may be less diversified and more volatile. Alinea is not affiliated with the sources listed below, and their inclusion is not an endorsement. Alinea charges a subscription fee for its advisory services; see Item 5 of Form ADV Part 2A. Alinea’s support team handles questions about using the service only and does not provide investment advice.

See our Form ADV Part 2A, Wrap Program Brochure, and Form CRS at www.alinea-invest.com/legal/home. For more on Allie, see AI Allie – Disclosures & Terms of Use at www.alinea-invest.com/legal/ai-allie-disclosures-terms-of-use.

Sources

[1] SEC Office of Investor Education and Advocacy, NASAA, and FINRA, “Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Investment Fraud,” investor alert, January 25, 2024 (finra.org, investor.gov).

[2] Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC), What SIPC Protects (sipc.org).

‍