Retirement Advisor Confidence Outlook

The Retirement Advisor Confidence Outlook (RACO) is a monthly index published on Financial Planning that surveys hundreds of financial advisors to understand their forward-looking perspective on the economy and plans for client asset allocations. This index provides a snapshot of the economic landscape and provides a peer view into client advising choices for the coming month.

In this index, advisors are asked to share their outlook on six core economic indicators: the overall economy, the global economic system, government policy, their asset allocation, their client's risk tolerance, and their practice performance. From these responses, a score is developed to take into account the balance of positive and negative outlooks. These scores are then averaged to create the overall outlook score: a value from -100 to 100 with -100 being the most pessimistic outlook possible, 0 being a neutral outlook, and 100 being the most optimistic outlook possible. This index is sponsored monthly in partnership with ADP.

The RACO (June, 2023 – present) is a reimagined version of the Retirement Advisor Confidence Index (June, 2011 – May, 2023).

An elderly couple walk arm-in-arm past an outdoor cafe terrace in Edinburgh, U.K., on Wednesday, July 31, 2013. The latest opinion polls show supporters of Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond's campaign for independence lagging behind those in favor of the status quo by more than 20 percentage points ahead of the Sept.18, 2014, referendum. Photographer: Simon Dawson/Bloomberg

Retirement investors were jittery about stocks even before bear market, new data shows

In April and May, future retirees showed persistently low confidence in the stock market – and that was before the downturn in June.

Rattled retirement savers bolting from equities

Advisors say clients planning for retirement have been rattled by market volatility and are running away from stocks as they try to minimize risk.

Partner Insights from ADP
Retirement investors feeling strain of inflation, rates and Ukraine

Latest RACI survey finds lowest confidence gauges in key metrics since the onset of the pandemic.

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Inflation, interest rate concerns tank client retirement confidence

Latest confidence survey finds jittery investors moving away from equity markets.

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Inflation, omicron sap retirement confidence

New RACI survey finds anxieties weighing on clients' retirement picture, but interest in equities remains strong.

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Inflation, tax concerns weigh on retirement planning

Clients aren't panicking quite yet, but far-reaching anxieties are casting a shadow over portfolio decisions.

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Retirement confidence rebounds, but concerns over inflation, market valuations linger

October retirement confidence survey indicated a revived faith in equities and improved risk tolerance.

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Retirement confidence plunges on fears of market correction, inflation

RACI index hits low for the year as advisors describe a constellation of worries that have clients pulling back.

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Retirement confidence on an even keel as anxieties offset optimism

Strong markets collide with COVID and inflation concerns, keeping investor confidence strong but mostly static as some advisors see dark clouds gathering.

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Retirement confidence still strong but showing signs of stress

Worries about resurgent COVID, tax changes and market fluctuations have investors feeling more risk-averse.

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Retirement confidence remains strong as clients factor in vaccine effects and the reopening economy

Clients continue to feel good about their retirement picture, even if some ‘twitchy’ investors are starting to wonder about peeling away from equities.

Sponsored by ADP