Article last updated 8 September 2026.
The word "uncertainty" has become something of a fixture in conversations about work. Right now, artificial intelligence (AI) is sitting at the centre of that uncertainty. It’s dominating headlines, sparking debate in boardrooms, and quietly unsettling the minds of people who are simply trying to get on with their careers.
So, when clients tell me they're worried about the future of work, I understand. But I'd gently push back on the framing. The question isn't just "will AI take my job?" – it's often something deeper: "Will my children or grandchildren have the same opportunities I did? Will the careers they're building today still exist in 20 years?"
But here's the thing: the world of work was already changing long before AI entered the conversation. The way people work, where they work, and how long they stay in any one role has been shifting for years. Flexible and remote working – including working from abroad – has moved from a pandemic-era experiment to an expectation for many. The average person now changes jobs far more frequently than previous generations did, and the idea of a ‘job for life’ feels like a relic of another era.
This article is for information purposes only and isn't financial advice. Please speak to a qualified financial adviser before making any financial decisions.
Many economists and researchers believe AI is unlikely to replace a huge proportion of human jobs in the near term. The World Economic Forum’s ‘Future of Jobs Report 2025’ suggests that AI will create 170 million new jobs and displace 92 million jobs by 2030. Although views differ, and the pace of change is genuinely uncertain, they tend to see a slower process, as AI gradually embeds itself across industries. What it’s doing – and will continue to do – is change the nature of work. It automates repetitive tasks, speeds up research, and handles data at a scale no human team could match. But it also creates entirely new roles and career paths that simply didn't exist a decade ago.
Prompt engineers, AI ethicists, automation consultants, data storytellers, who transform complex data into a compelling narrative that helps audiences understand insights and make decisions – these are real jobs, growing in demand. And they require very human skills: creativity, judgement, empathy, and communication. History offers reassurance here, too. The industrial revolution, the rise of computing, the internet – each wave of technology displaced some jobs and created many more. The same pattern is likely to hold.
For the next generation entering the workforce, AI literacy could be one of the most valuable skills they develop. The graduates who learn to work with AI – rather than fear it – will be well-placed.
A more fluid working world – more job changes, more self-employment, more gaps between roles – makes financial planning more important, not less. The financial safety nets that previous generations could rely on – a single employer, a defined benefit pension, decades of continuity – are no longer guaranteed. A defined benefit pension is one where your employer guarantees a set income in retirement; few employers offer these today.
You probably already know the basics, but it's worth setting them out – getting them right has never mattered more.
Yes – join your workplace pension as soon as you’re eligible. A surprising number of people, particularly younger workers or people who have recently changed jobs, haven't enrolled or haven't checked whether they're contributing enough. If you’re worried about the future, it’s worth remembering that your pension is a way of providing for your future. As pensions are designed for long-term saving, you generally cannot access the money until age 55 (rising to 57 from 2028).
Work out what you can afford to contribute, then check whether your employer will match higher contributions. Many will – meaning your employer pays more in too. It's one of the most valuable benefits available, and worth taking full advantage of.
Don't overlook the fact that others can also pay into your pension: a parent or grandparent making contributions on your behalf can create a meaningful gift with long-term impact.
If you're self-employed or contracting, you won't have access to a workplace pension, so making your own pension provision is likely to be a priority – and the sooner you start, the greater the potential benefit.
Most employers provide some level of life assurance, but it's worth checking whether the cover is actually sufficient for your circumstances. Does it cover your mortgage? Would it genuinely provide for your family if something happened to you?
If your employer provides life assurance, make sure you’ve nominated a beneficiary – it's a simple step that's easy to overlook. Keep your expression of wishes up to date too – this is the form that tells your employer or insurer who you'd like to receive the benefit. Life changes – relationships, dependants, mortgages. Your nomination should reflect your current circumstances, not the ones you had when you first joined the company.
This is particularly relevant if you move jobs frequently, which may happen more as AI brings disruption to the world of work, because employer-provided life assurance ends when you leave. Gaps in cover can arise during transitions, so additional private cover is worth considering. If you're self-employed or a contractor, private life assurance is likely to be an important consideration – worth discussing with a financial adviser who can assess your specific circumstances.
Check whether your life cover is enough for your situation.
Income protection is one of the most underappreciated forms of financial cover. For working-age people, the risk of being unable to work due to long-term illness or injury is statistically greater than the risk of dying before retirement – yet far fewer people have cover in place for it. Some employers include income protection in their benefits package, but many don't.
If yours doesn't – or if you're self-employed, contracting, or working across multiple roles – private income protection is well worth exploring.
One additional aspect of cover to consider setting up privately is medical cover. This can provide faster access to treatment and greater flexibility – something many people find increasingly valuable.
If you move jobs often, which you may find yourself doing because of AI, or work for yourself, consider getting private cover in place. It's also worth knowing that family members can contribute towards the cost of premiums on your behalf.
Learn about income protection and see whether the cover you have is appropriate for your circumstances.
Aim to hold three to six months of living expenses in an easily accessible account. An emergency fund provides a financial buffer that goes beyond the purely practical.
Yes, it means you can cover your costs if a contract ends unexpectedly or a period without work arises. But it also means something less tangible and arguably more valuable: freedom. If you're in a job that isn't right for you, an emergency fund means you can leave without needing something else lined up immediately. In a world where career paths are less linear and job changes are more frequent, particularly due to the use of AI, that kind of financial breathing space is genuinely empowering.
A financial plan doesn't need to be complicated – it's simply a clear picture of where you are now, what you want your life to look like, and the practical steps to get there.
Start with the basics: the pension, the protection, the emergency fund. These give you immediate peace of mind. Then, when you're ready, look further ahead – saving, investing, building wealth over time. Investing consistently, even in small amounts, has historically outperformed keeping money in cash over the long term though this isn't guaranteed, and the value of investments can fall as well as rise. Past performance isn't a reliable indicator of future results.
Starting early matters enormously, especially if you’re concerned about how AI could impact either your career or that of your children or grandchildren. A modest amount invested in your twenties can potentially grow into something significant by the time you need it – thanks to the quiet, unglamorous power of compounding. Compounding means your returns earn their own returns over time – so the earlier you start, the harder your money works for you.
The world of work is changing. Some of that change is unsettling, and it's entirely reasonable to feel uncertain. But uncertainty doesn't have to mean unpreparedness. Getting the financial fundamentals in place – protection, a pension, a cash buffer – means that whatever the future of work looks like, you're building from a position of stability rather than anxiety. Our financial advisers work with you to make sure you're building a holistic financial plan that works for your whole life.
And that, in the end, is what good financial planning is really about: not predicting the future but making sure you're ready for it, whatever it might look like.
From making sure your pension is working hard enough to putting the right protection in place for your family, our financial advisers can help you get the fundamentals right – and build from there. Whatever the future of work holds, we'll help you face it with confidence.
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