Financial Advisor Confidence Outlook
The Financial Advisor Confidence Outlook (FACO) 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.
The FACO (June, 2023 – present) is a reimagined version of the Retirement Advisor Confidence Index (June, 2011 – May, 2023).
The recent fall in the price of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies is likely to blame, experts say, but don't expect that decrease to continue forever.
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Findings from iterations of Financial Planning's Financial Advisory Confidence Outlook show which assets have stood the test of time.
November 17
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One-third of financial advisors say balancing personalization with growth is the hardest trade-off for them to manage. Doing so successfully means making hard choices about what's most important for clients and the business.
November 14
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Less than a third of firms have a formal, documented plan in place, according to this month's Financial Advisor Confidence Outlook survey. Experts say this is a dangerous state of affairs.
November 13
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Political instability and other pressures are feeding some clients' portfolio fears, advisors say in this month's Financial Advisor Confidence Outlook.
November 12
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Across more than two years of advisor surveys, industry worries have evolved dramatically. Yet certain themes continue to capture attention.
October 31
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Nearly half of advisors are considering adding this service, according to the Financial Planning's October Financial Advisor Confidence Outlook.
October 27
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As geopolitical and other uncertainty remains, gold is seen as a useful hedge. But experts warn gold's rise won't last forever.
October 17
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In this month's Financial Advisor Confidence Outlook, advisors' feelings about the overall economy and practice performance were up. That optimism could be fleeting.
October 7
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For clients holding crypto, about half have experienced notable losses. But 70% have experienced notable gains, the latest Financial Advisor Confidence Outlook found.
September 24
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Financial Planning's September Financial Advisor Confidence Outlook found that equities are growing hotter and cash is cooling off in client portfolios.
September 22
