Despite strong market returns last year, a majority of financial advisers have found that their clients will have to work three to five years longer to maintain their standard of living during their retirement, according to a survey.
Although the majority of financial advisers were satisfied with 2009’s performance, the study highlighted that 63% of advisors said that up to three-quarters of their clients will have to work from three to five years longer to make their retirements viable.
“Clearly, 2009 ended on a far more positive note than it began, which meant that financial advisers are generally optimistic about the way the markets and US economy were trending than they had for quite some time,” said John Coyne, president of Brinker Capital. “Their general level of optimism notwithstanding, the majority of advisers note that their clients still have to delay retirement plans to make up a savings shortfall, and concerns about potential tax increases still abound.”
Sixty-one percent of advisers are either “highly confident” or “somewhat confident” about the nation’s economic outlook; 67% are “highly confident” or “somewhat confident” about 2010 market performance; and 93% indicate they’re “highly confident” or “somewhat confident” about the future of their practices.
In terms of investing strategy, 88% of advisers believe emerging markets will outperform the United States again in 2010, while only 34% plan on allocating additional assets to exchange-traded funds. Seventy-seven percent are allocating additional assets to guaranteed insurance products, and 56% are allocating additional assets to cash or other short-term strategies.
There is still uncertainty ahead, which advisers fear will cause some pain. Topping the list of concerns are tax increases, followed by the budget deficit, double-dip recession, another financial meltdown and healthcare reform.
