Wealth Advisor Confidence Survey 2018-2019
a joint initiative of The Financial Awareness Foundation, CPA Trendlines and HB Publishing & Marketing Company, LLC

Wealth Advisor Confidence Survey 2019

The Financial Awareness Foundation has teamed up with CPA Trendlines, HB Publishing & Marketing Company, LLC and other financial associations to gauge the sentiment of independent financial planning and wealth advisory firms after the first two years of the Trump Presidency.

We sincerely appreciate your participation in this confidential survey. Your results will arrive within 2 weeks of completing this survey. Rest assured that your responses will be kept in strictest confidence and final results will be published on an anonymous aggregate basis only.

Thanks again for your participation. Later in 2019, findings will be presented at the Accounting & Finance Show-NYC and in various national financial media outlets.

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* 1. To what extent do you believe there will be a FURTHER stock market correction (at least 10% decline) within the next 12 months?

Not very likely

Somewhat likely

Very likely

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* 2. To what extent do you believe the economy will experience a recession (at least 2 consecutive quarters of negative GDP) within the next 12 months?

Not very likely

Somewhat likely

Very likely

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* 3. The Spectrum Millionaire Confidence Index continues to fall to levels not seen since the dot-com meltdown of 2000. Which of the following factors do you think contributed? (list all that apply)

Turbulence in Washington, DC

Doubts about Trump tax reform

Trump tariffs and retaliation

Concern about the Republican healthcare plan

Long overdue for stock market correction

Long overdue for recession

Continued interest rate increases

Flattening yield curve

Other (please specify)

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* 4. Which demographic group below do you find is most pessimistic about its financial future? (select single best answer)

Great generation (age 70+)

Boomers (age 53-70)

Generation Y (age 36-52)

Millennials (18-35)

Generation Z (under age 18)

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* 5. Regarding your answer to the question above, do you find any gender differences?

Men more pessimistic in general

Women more pessimistic in general

No significant difference between men and women

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* 6. Over the past two years, to what extent has America's financial awareness and financial literacy changed? (select only one answer)

Improved significantly

Improved somewhat

Stayed the same

Fallen behind

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* 7. Which of the following could make the biggest positive impact on America's financial awareness and financial literacy over the next decade?
(Select only one response)

K-12 schools

Colleges/universities

Houses of worship

Tax preparers/CPAs

Employers

Government organizations

Other (please specify)

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* 8. When you first met your clients/prospects, what percentage were struggling with the following challenges:

	Very few	One third or less	Roughly half	Approximately two-thirds	Most if not all
Knew how much money they spent every month	Knew how much money they spent every month Very few	Knew how much money they spent every month One third or less	Knew how much money they spent every month Roughly half	Knew how much money they spent every month Approximately two-thirds	Knew how much money they spent every month Most if not all
Had run their numbers for accumulating an appropriate retirement nest egg	Had run their numbers for accumulating an appropriate retirement nest egg Very few	Had run their numbers for accumulating an appropriate retirement nest egg One third or less	Had run their numbers for accumulating an appropriate retirement nest egg Roughly half	Had run their numbers for accumulating an appropriate retirement nest egg Approximately two-thirds	Had run their numbers for accumulating an appropriate retirement nest egg Most if not all
Had a clearly defined investment policy statement and asset allocation plan	Had a clearly defined investment policy statement and asset allocation plan Very few	Had a clearly defined investment policy statement and asset allocation plan One third or less	Had a clearly defined investment policy statement and asset allocation plan Roughly half	Had a clearly defined investment policy statement and asset allocation plan Approximately two-thirds	Had a clearly defined investment policy statement and asset allocation plan Most if not all
Had a current estate and gift plan in place	Had a current estate and gift plan in place Very few	Had a current estate and gift plan in place One third or less	Had a current estate and gift plan in place Roughly half	Had a current estate and gift plan in place Approximately two-thirds	Had a current estate and gift plan in place Most if not all
Had accumulated a family debt for college education exceeding $30,000	Had accumulated a family debt for college education exceeding $30,000 Very few	Had accumulated a family debt for college education exceeding $30,000 One third or less	Had accumulated a family debt for college education exceeding $30,000 Roughly half	Had accumulated a family debt for college education exceeding $30,000 Approximately two-thirds	Had accumulated a family debt for college education exceeding $30,000 Most if not all
Were in danger of outliving their money in retirement	Were in danger of outliving their money in retirement Very few	Were in danger of outliving their money in retirement One third or less	Were in danger of outliving their money in retirement Roughly half	Were in danger of outliving their money in retirement Approximately two-thirds	Were in danger of outliving their money in retirement Most if not all

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* 9. If Americans could no longer tap their home equity to help pay for tuition, how much would colleges continue to hike tuition every year? (Select only one)

It would continue rising faster than inflation

It would maintain pace with inflation

It would slowly start to decline

It would decline rapidly

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* 10. Why are so many Americans hesitant to obtain (and keep current) a financial, estate and gift plan? (select all that apply)

Think it's too expensive

Don't know where to turn for advice

Don't think they're old enough

Think the government can handle their affairs OK when they die

They are too busy with other things and don’t see it as a priority

Other (please specify)

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* 11. Please describe the extent to which you expect your firm to grow (or decline) over the next 12 months

Grow by more than 10%

Grow by 6% to 10%

Grow by 1% to 5%

Stay the same

Decline by 1% to 5%

Decline by 6% to 10%

Decline by more than 10%

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* 12. Please describe the extent to which you expect peer firms of comparable size and client makeup to grow (or decline) over the next 12 months (select best single answer):

Grow by over 10%

Grow by 6% to 10%

Grow by 1% to 5%

Stay the same

Decline by 1% to 5%

Decline by 6% to 10%

Decline by more than 10%

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* 13. To what extent are the following communication channels effective for enhancing your status as a thought leader?
(please select best answer for each row)

	Extremely effective	Very effective	Somewhat effective	NOT Very effective	N/A
Hosting client events	Hosting client events Extremely effective	Hosting client events Very effective	Hosting client events Somewhat effective	Hosting client events NOT Very effective	Hosting client events N/A
Posting on Facebook	Posting on Facebook Extremely effective	Posting on Facebook Very effective	Posting on Facebook Somewhat effective	Posting on Facebook NOT Very effective	Posting on Facebook N/A
Writing books/eBooks	Writing books/eBooks Extremely effective	Writing books/eBooks Very effective	Writing books/eBooks Somewhat effective	Writing books/eBooks NOT Very effective	Writing books/eBooks N/A
Posting articles/updates on LinkedIn	Posting articles/updates on LinkedIn Extremely effective	Posting articles/updates on LinkedIn Very effective	Posting articles/updates on LinkedIn Somewhat effective	Posting articles/updates on LinkedIn NOT Very effective	Posting articles/updates on LinkedIn N/A
Tweeting (i.e. Twitter)	Tweeting (i.e. Twitter) Extremely effective	Tweeting (i.e. Twitter) Very effective	Tweeting (i.e. Twitter) Somewhat effective	Tweeting (i.e. Twitter) NOT Very effective	Tweeting (i.e. Twitter) N/A
Being quoted in the press	Being quoted in the press Extremely effective	Being quoted in the press Very effective	Being quoted in the press Somewhat effective	Being quoted in the press NOT Very effective	Being quoted in the press N/A
Producing videos	Producing videos Extremely effective	Producing videos Very effective	Producing videos Somewhat effective	Producing videos NOT Very effective	Producing videos N/A
Writing articles for publication	Writing articles for publication Extremely effective	Writing articles for publication Very effective	Writing articles for publication Somewhat effective	Writing articles for publication NOT Very effective	Writing articles for publication N/A
Hosting webinars	Hosting webinars Extremely effective	Hosting webinars Very effective	Hosting webinars Somewhat effective	Hosting webinars NOT Very effective	Hosting webinars N/A
Blogging	Blogging Extremely effective	Blogging Very effective	Blogging Somewhat effective	Blogging NOT Very effective	Blogging N/A
Public speaking/presentations	Public speaking/presentations Extremely effective	Public speaking/presentations Very effective	Public speaking/presentations Somewhat effective	Public speaking/presentations NOT Very effective	Public speaking/presentations N/A
Posting on Instagram, Pinterest or Snapchat	Posting on Instagram, Pinterest or Snapchat Extremely effective	Posting on Instagram, Pinterest or Snapchat Very effective	Posting on Instagram, Pinterest or Snapchat Somewhat effective	Posting on Instagram, Pinterest or Snapchat NOT Very effective	Posting on Instagram, Pinterest or Snapchat N/A

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* 14. On average, how often would you say you contact your clients every month? (select single best answer)

Less than once per month

2-5 times per month

6-10 times per month

Over 10 times per month

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* 15. Which of the following best describes the size of your firm, practice or business? (select single best answer)

Sole practitioner

2-5 professionals on staff

6-10 professionals on staff

11-25 professionals on staff

26-50 professionals on staff

51-100 professionals on staff

Over 100 professionals on staff

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* 16. Which of the following best describes your business or profession? (select single best answer)

CFP Wealth Advisor/Financial Advisor

Attorney

CPA/Accountant/Tax Advisor

Insurance Professionals

Planned Giving Officer/Advisor

Business Owner

Other (please specify)

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* 17. Which of the following do you consider core offerings for your firm or practice? (select up to 6 of your top services)

Estate & Gift Planning

Investment Brokerage

Charitable Gift/Legacy Planning

Family Office Planning

Pension/Retirement Plan Brokerage

Asset Management

Insurance/Risk Management Brokerage

Multi-Generational Planning

Tax Planning

Long-Term Care Planning

College Tuition Planning

Comprehensive Financial Advising/Planning (fee based)

Real Estate Planning/Brokerage

Retirement Planning

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* 18. Which of the following best describes your age? (select best answer)

Under 30

30-39

40-49

50-59

60-69

70+

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* 19. Which of the following best describes your family's financial status growing up? (select single best answer)

Poverty level

Lower income, but above poverty line

Working class (non-professional)

Middle class

Upper middle class

Highly affluent

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* 20. Where should we send your free report?

Name*

Company

Email Address*

Question Title

* 1. To what extent do you believe there will be a FURTHER stock market correction (at least 10% decline) within the next 12 months?

Question Title

* 2. To what extent do you believe the economy will experience a recession (at least 2 consecutive quarters of negative GDP) within the next 12 months?

Question Title

* 3. The Spectrum Millionaire Confidence Index continues to fall to levels not seen since the dot-com meltdown of 2000. Which of the following factors do you think contributed? (list all that apply)

Question Title

* 4. Which demographic group below do you find is most pessimistic about its financial future? (select single best answer)

Question Title

* 5. Regarding your answer to the question above, do you find any gender differences?

Question Title

* 6. Over the past two years, to what extent has America's financial awareness and financial literacy changed? (select only one answer)

Question Title

* 7. Which of the following could make the biggest positive impact on America's financial awareness and financial literacy over the next decade? (Select only one response)

Question Title

* 8. When you first met your clients/prospects, what percentage were struggling with the following challenges:

Question Title

* 9. If Americans could no longer tap their home equity to help pay for tuition, how much would colleges continue to hike tuition every year? (Select only one)

Question Title

* 10. Why are so many Americans hesitant to obtain (and keep current) a financial, estate and gift plan? (select all that apply)

Question Title

* 11. Please describe the extent to which you expect your firm to grow (or decline) over the next 12 months

Question Title

* 12. Please describe the extent to which you expect peer firms of comparable size and client makeup to grow (or decline) over the next 12 months (select best single answer):

Question Title

* 13. To what extent are the following communication channels effective for enhancing your status as a thought leader? (please select best answer for each row)

Question Title

* 14. On average, how often would you say you contact your clients every month? (select single best answer)

Question Title

* 15. Which of the following best describes the size of your firm, practice or business? (select single best answer)

Question Title

* 16. Which of the following best describes your business or profession? (select single best answer)

Question Title

* 17. Which of the following do you consider core offerings for your firm or practice? (select up to 6 of your top services)

Question Title

* 18. Which of the following best describes your age? (select best answer)

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* 19. Which of the following best describes your family's financial status growing up? (select single best answer)

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* 20. Where should we send your free report?

* 7. Which of the following could make the biggest positive impact on America's financial awareness and financial literacy over the next decade?
(Select only one response)

* 13. To what extent are the following communication channels effective for enhancing your status as a thought leader?
(please select best answer for each row)