Affluent Investors’ Confidence Declines

Market research firm TNS’ Investor Confidence Index, based on an early April survey of 1,551 adults with investable assets of $500,000 or more on their expectations for the next six months, declined to 113 from 119 in January.

“In addition to the slower GDP growth in the first quarter, the past few months have seen a confluence of worrisome events,” said Ellen Sills-Levy, senior vice president of investment research at TNS. Most notably, these are “rising gas a crude oil prices, a near shutdown of the U.S. government over fiscal policy, warnings that the U.S. debt ceiling will soon be reached, budget proposals that call for large cuts in spending and both perceived and real inflation in everyday products. All these factors appear to be adversely impacting investor confidence.”

Nonetheless, affluent investors are cautiously upbeat about their incomes and the financial health of their employers, TNS said. Nearly two-thirds do not think the economy will jeopardize their financial aspirations, and 80% believe that their financial providers work with their best interests in mind.

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