Nationwide Funds reported that its in-depth investor sentiment survey conducted by Harris Interactive, titled "Fear of Financial Planning," finds that 26% of potential investors do not have a financial plan.
Perhaps even more frightening, especially in light of Financial Planning Week taking place Oct. 7 – 11, is that 38% of consumers who have no financial plan also have no intention of ever creating one.
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Michael Spangler, president of Nationwide Funds, said: "We live in an era when Americans are more responsible for their own financial security than ever before. However, for various reasons far too many haven’t taken the time to draft a detailed financial plan to help them achieve their goals over the short, medium and long terms."
"Of the investors who have no financial plan, 31 percent stated they have not gotten around to crafting one yet, 20 percent said they do not need one, 16 percent said they do not know how to create one and 15 percent responded that they do not need a formal financial plan because "all of the information I need is in my head.
"An effective plan is much more than opening a savings account or investing in your employer’s 401(k), it’s a map to ensure that you get to your financial destination. The positive news is people don’t need to go it alone, but can benefit from the expertise of an investment professional who can take a macro-level view and help them with their financial goals, whether it’s buying a home, paying for a child’s education, or saving for retirement."
According to the survey, of the 783 potential investors over the age of 18 who had at least $100,000 in investable assets, 36% have never worked with a financial advisor or, they have in the past, but currently aren’t.
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By GlobalDataThe top reasons given were respondents thought they could do it themselves and feel they didn’t need professional help (40%), don’t want to pay the fees associated with working with a financial advisor (20%), feel they don’t have enough assets to work with an advisor (11%) or are afraid to trust a stranger to handle their financial needs (6%).
Of those investors that do work with a financial advisor, 19% said they do so because they feel they need help to make better investment decisions or need more information and options regarding various investment opportunities.
In addition, 17% said they turn to a financial advisor in order to avail themselves of the professional’s knowledge, expertise and investment success.
Spangler added: "These findings demonstrate several significant gaps that financial advisors can bridge to educate investors about the importance of a robust financial plan and various investment products that can help them to meet their financial goals. By working with an advisor who can assess an investor’s goals, assets and risk tolerance, the path to achieving those objectives and preparing for a secure retirement becomes significantly smoother."
