How Retirees Should View Crypto and AI in 2025
Technology seems to be moving at an exponential rate. Will anything slow it down?
An image made with AI assistance.. not perfect, but the tech is getting better, no?
Over the past few years, AI and crypto have become two of the most common topics my retired clients bring up.
AI appears in the headlines every week, crypto markets swing wildly, and the pace of change feels dizzying, especially if you’re retired or nearing retirement.
It’s natural to wonder:
Should I be worried?
Do I need to understand all this?
Will this change my retirement plan?
The short answer: you don’t need to panic, but you do need a clear perspective.
Let’s help you form a grounded and practical look at how retirees should think about AI, crypto, and the broader tech revolution in 2025.
AI: A Tool to Augment Us, Not Replace Us
Artificial intelligence is advancing quickly, and the news cycle can make it feel like we’re a few months away from robots taking everyone’s job. That makes for dramatic headlines, but it’s not how technological change actually works.
What AI is
AI is a powerful tool for handling repetitive tasks, analyzing huge amounts of data, and assisting with decision-making. It can help doctors read scans, help planners sort through tax scenarios, and help businesses speed up routine work.
What AI isn’t
AI is not a replacement for human connection, empathy, or judgment.
As an example, retirement planning isn’t just spreadsheets and projections, it’s also about:
• Understanding a family’s values.
• Planning around their emotions, fears, and relationships.
• Helping people feel secure enough to enjoy what they’ve saved.
• Real conversations during uncertain times.
AI can help process information, but it can’t understand your life story. It can’t comfort you when the market drops or help mediate family dynamics.
Human beings need social connection and empathy, and as far as we can tell, that only comes from other human beings.
The takeaway for retirees
AI will likely continue to drive innovation and change in all sorts of industries.
It make financial planning better by improving tools and analysis behind the scenes. But your strategy, your peace of mind, and your long-term retirement decisions still require a human professional who knows you, not a piece of software.
Crypto: The Technology vs. the Investment
Crypto is another area filled with confusion. There’s a big difference between blockchain technology and crypto investing, and retirees benefit from understanding that divergence clearly.
Blockchain technology
Blockchain (the underlying technology) is promising and has many potential use cases besides digital currency.
It can be used for:
• secure digital record keeping
• supply chain transparency
• cross-border payments
• decentralized platforms
There are hundreds of other possibilities being explored, many of which will evolve meaningfully over the next decade.
Crypto investing
The investment side of crypto is an entirely different story.
Crypto investments remain:
• extremely volatile
• highly speculative
• lightly regulated
• driven by sentiment more than fundamentals
Even in 2025, crypto still lacks the stabilizing infrastructure and regulatory guardrails that traditional markets rely on.
What retirees should know
Crypto is intriguing, but I remain skeptical of its place in the core of a retiree's portfolio, especially if they have any sort of risk aversion.
If someone wants to own a small piece out of curiosity, that’s fine, as long as it’s an amount they could lose entirely without affecting their plan.
The “bring” and dependable, long-term retirement planning essentials like diversification, strategic tax planning, and a sensible withdrawal strategy continue to be the real drivers of retirement success.
AI Scams: A Growing Threat to Seniors
One area where AI does pose a real risk is in scams. AI tools have made fraudsters more sophisticated than ever.
We’re seeing:
• AI-generated voice clones pretending to be family members
• realistic deepfake videos
• phishing emails indistinguishable from real institutions
• AI-written messages designed to sound convincing and personal
Seniors have always been targets, but AI has raised the stakes.
Top 10 Senior Scams - Living Branches
How to protect yourself or a senior in your life
Here are a few guardrails that make a real difference:
Create a family “code word.”
If someone calls asking for help or money, even if it sounds like a loved one, ask for the agreed-upon code word.Never send money or gift cards based on a phone call.
Always hang up and call the person directly at their known number.Verify emails and texts.
If an email claims to be from your bank or custodian, don’t click the link. Log in directly through the website or call the institution.Enable account protections.
Two-factor authentication, custody alerts, and regular password updates help block unauthorized access.Talk about scams openly.
The more a family talks about how fraud works, the harder it is for criminals to succeed.
Let’s All Take a Collective Deep Breath!
There’s no doubt that AI and crypto are shaping the future, but they don’t need to paralyze you in the fear of the unknown.
AI will be a powerful tool. One that’s fingerprints will be all over every industry in creating efficiency and driving impactful change. When it comes to retirement planning, it will make planning sharper and more effective, but there’s no evidence that it will ever replace the human relationship at the heart of good advice.
Crypto may have interesting technological applications, but the investment itself remains speculative, volatile, and not essential as a core part of a retirement plan, especially for retirees with some risk aversion.
Scams, unfortunately, are where retirees need the most caution.
As AI becomes more sophisticated, so do fraudsters, making awareness and proactive conversations crucial.
Retirement planning still comes back to the timeless fundamentals: a diversified portfolio, a tax-smart withdrawal strategy, clear estate documents, and a plan grounded in your values and your life.
Technology can support that, but it isn’t replacing it!
Have any questions about what you’ve read? Let’s talk about them!
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