Infographic: Americans' evolving financial priorities create opportunities for financial advisors
MDRT poll finds 44 percent of adults without financial advisors said the major events of 2020 have made them realize the benefits of working with an advisor.
Americans are serious about their finances in 2021, giving advisors an opportunity to help them reach their objectives. More than half of U.S. adults said their top New Year’s resolution is related to finances, according to a recent Harris poll conducted on behalf of the Million Dollar Round Table trade group. Among the key findings:
Advisors made a difference. Even taking government aid into account, more than a third of Americans said their household income decreased in 2020.
On the other hand, 28 percent of Americans with financial advisors said their household income increased in 2020, compared to 15 percent of Americans without advisors.
This may indicate that financial advisors made a real difference in protecting their clients’ income and ability to meet financial goals last year, even as the recession and unemployment took their toll on the country.
The impact of the pandemic may be far-reaching. Fifty-seven percent of Americans said the COVID-19 pandemic and current ongoing recession will have long-term, negative impacts on their ability to save for important life goals. The effects of this recession have fallen unevenly on different groups, hitting Hispanic Americans especially hard.
Many Americans are ready to ask for financial advice. Forty-four percent of Americans without financial advisors said the major events of 2020 in the United States and their financial impacts have made them realize the benefits of working with one.
This includes the groups hit hardest, including 54 percent of 18-to-34-year-olds, 58 percent of 35-to-44-year-olds and 60 percent of Hispanic Americans.
Advisors will have plenty of work on their hands, because Americans have a diverse set of monetary goals and priorities. Both Americans with advisors (33 percent) and Americans without advisors (30 percent) named identifying and preparing for long-term financial goals as their top priority in working with a financial advisor in 2021.
For Americans with advisors, purchasing financial products such annuities or insurance (30 percent) and diversifying their investment portfolios (30 percent) follow as the next-most-important priorities.
For Americans without advisors, creating an emergency savings fund (28 percent) and paying off debt (26 percent) come in at second and third, respectively.
“While total recovery from the ups and downs of 2020 will take time, Americans are not waiting to react with their wallets,” according to the survey report. “Continued adaptability and the ability to move with societal trends will give financial advisors ample opportunity to help Americans meet their financial needs and more.”
