Many middle-income Americans could be without adequate retirement assets because most advisors are busy catering to wealthier Americans, according to a study conducted by the Bankers Life and Casualty Company Center for a Secure Retirement.
The organization’s Middle-Income Retirement Preparedness Study, which was released Monday, found that 51% of pre-retirees and retirees with incomes between $25,000 and $75,000 had not been contacted by any kind of retirement professional in the past 12 months.
Further, 84% of those surveyed that work with an advisor said they were the ones who had to initiate contact with the advisor.
"Most pre-retirees and retirees, regardless of income level, are concerned over whether or not they've planned adequately and saved enough to live comfortably in retirement," said Scott Perry, president of Bankers Life and Casualty Company. "This concern is especially critical to middle-income Americans, more so than affluent retirees, because inadequate planning puts them at risk for not being able to maintain their standard of living during retirement."
Minimal outreach on the industry's part can negatively impact those who might otherwise benefit from a professional advisor's services. These individuals lose out on the benefits of learning about new products and services and having an objective third party to review and identify gaps in their retirement plan.
The study found that by working with an advisor 68% felt better prepared for retirement than their peers, and 76% said they were extremely or very satisfied with their retirement professional.
