Financial research with AI

1. Financial research with AI

Welcome back! Earlier, you guided AI to summarize transcripts and analyze company data.

2. From company insights to market research

This time, you'll zoom out - using AI and prompting logic to study markets, policy moves, and economic trends drawn from multiple live sources.

3. The CFO's question

Imagine your CFO calls before a board meeting. They ask, "What's happening with interest rates, and how does it affect our business?" You have 20 minutes. Normally, you'd open multiple reports and articles, skimming for answers. Financial data and commentary update every hour. Policy statements trigger dozens of market reactions, and no analyst can read it all.

4. The challenge: TMI

With AI's research capabilities, you can compress that process to minutes - if you guide it well. Web-enabled AI can help by scanning, summarizing, and connecting themes across sources, essentially becoming your research assistant for synthesis.

5. AI online

Web-enabled AI models can scan and synthesize information from credible, live sources, including official statements, market news, analyst notes, and economic data. Using deep research modes, models can connect ideas across multiple perspectives rather than relying on one document or headline. This makes it especially powerful for big-picture finance questions, where context and balance matter. Still, the quality of the insight depends on how you frame your question - the AI can find connections, but you decide what it should focus on.

6. CTDO

You have used CTDO to help write analytical prompts. Now we'll use a version built for research:

7. STOA

STOA: Scope, Timeframe, Output, and Assumptions. STOA keeps research queries focused, current, and actionable.

8. Prompting with STOA

Let's apply the STOA framework step by step. First, define the Scope - what you want the AI to analyze. Here, we'll focus on a specific event: the Federal Reserve's latest rate decision. Next, add a Timeframe - this keeps your query current. Use phrasing like "most recent" or "past quarter." Then, specify the Output - the format or focus you want. For example, you might ask for bullet points, a short summary, or a chart-ready list of key impacts. Finally, set your Assumptions - these give the model context, such as "assume current macroeconomic conditions" or "focus on developed markets."

9. Prompting with STOA

When you combine all four elements, you get a precise, finance-ready question that ensures depth and relevance.

10. Always verify

A great feature of many tools are citations and links, from which you can verify the AI's informations sources. Always check these to confirm accuracy, publication dates, and consistency. Differences between sources often highlight market uncertainty - a valuable insight in itself. Verification takes less than a minute but adds credibility and confidence.

11. So what?

Once you've verified, identify two or three key drivers and translate them into a one-sentence "so what" for your business. Use this pattern: "Because [cause], we expect [effect], which implies [action] for [team or KPI].” Example: "Because rates remain high, we expect higher borrowing costs and will review our cash-flow forecasts."

12. Quick credibility checklist

Before sharing the results of any AI-assisted research, pause for a quick review: Are there at least two citations? Are dates current? Is the tone factual? Do sources align? Is your takeaway business-specific? If not, refine and recheck. A short checklist ensures your insight is both sound and defensible.

13. Research to insight

Here's your full workflow: choose deep research mode, apply STOA to structure your question, verify sources, extract key drivers, and deliver a concise "so what." This turns market noise into insight your CFO can trust.

14. Let's practice!

Have a go yourself using Copilot!

Create Your Free Account

By continuing, you accept our Terms of Use, our Privacy Policy and that your data is stored in the USA.