Nearly half of TIAA-CREF survey respondents think they need
$50,000-plus in savings to merit working with an advisor. Nearly half of
Americans believe they need a sizable nest egg to justify working
with a financial advisor, according to new research. TIAA-CREF discloses this
finding in a summary of results from its 4th annual “Advice Matters”
survey. Conducted by KRC Research, the online survey polled 2,000 U.S. adults
ages 18 and older in August.
According to the study, 45 percent of respondents think they
need at least $50,000 in savings to merit working with an advisor. Of those who
have never received professional financial advice, 63 percent say, “I don’t
have enough money to invest” as a reason.
However, the
research also finds that respondents who have met with an advisor are
significantly more confident in their retirement savings plan than
those who have not (78 percent versus 43 percent).
Millennials are behind when it comes to retirement savings;
however, members of this generation are open to alternative retirement savings.
About one-third of respondents who have received professional financial advice
report they:
- subsequently changed their asset allocation in
their retirement plan (37 percent)
- increased the amount set aside in savings (36
percent)
- decreased spending (29 percent)
- monitored their savings more frequently (32
percent) and established a plan for paying off loans or managing debt (28
percent).
Survey respondents who have discussed retirement with an
advisor are more likely to “run the numbers” and calculate how much income they
will need in retirement: 79 percent versus only 32 percent who have not met
with an advisor. Nearly all of those who have met with an advisor have talked
about turning their savings into monthly income upon retirement. And 58 percent
have put a plan to do so into action.
Though 49 percent of all respondents report that they have
received financial advice, significantly more men (56 percent) than women (43
percent) have taken this step. Women who have not received professional
financial advice also are more likely (41 percent) to say the primary reason
that they haven’t worked with a financial advisor is that they don’t have
enough money to invest, while only 30 percent of men report the same.
Just 31 percent of women say they have calculated the amount
of money they will need to live comfortably in retirement, while 50 percent of
men have done so. Gen Y respondents are the least likely to have received
professional financial advice (42 percent) among all generations. But they also
are the most interested in receiving advice in the future (83 percent), the
report finds.
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