For the first time ever, the number of mass-affluent investors who are taking advice from independent financial planners is the same as those who work with full-service brokers, according to a recent report from Spectrem Group.

The number of investors who use an independent financial planner as their primary financial advisor rose to 22% in 2009, up from 20% last year, according to the Spectrem study, 2009 Mass Affluent Investor, published in October. The number of investors who chose full-service brokers was also 22%, dropping below 30% for the first time. Only6% of investors made RIAs their top choice, down from 10%.

Spectrem surveyed 1,498 households last July for the study, defining the mass affluent as those with $100,000 to $1 million in investable assets, aside from primary residences.

Yet financial planners have as much work to do as full-service brokers, in terms of client satisfaction. Overall, only 61% of investors say they are satisfied with their advisors-no matter if they're using an independent planner or a broker-down from 83% in 2008. Fewer investors are satisfied with their advisors' knowledge and expertise, (70%, compared with 84% in 2008); and responsiveness to their requests (73%, down from 85%).

Some of the top financial concerns among respondents were: a prolonged recession (82%); maintaining their current financial position (74%); having enough money set aside for retirement (71%); inflation (68%); and the financial situation of their children or grandchildren (68%).

Consequently, 41% of respondents said they use conservative investment strategies, up from 22% a year ago. Nearly 60% of those 50 years old and younger say they will save or invest more of their earnings than they had in the past, because of the events of the past year.

"[Advisors] really, really need to understand the psychological impact [the economy] has had on clients and what clients expect from them," said George Walper Jr., president of Spectrem Group. "Clients are sending a strong message to the advisor community."