Advisors Instill Confidence in Face of Recession

Fifty-five percent of American adults expect a recession in the next year, according to a survey released Thursday by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, a professional organization for personal financial advisors.

However, the research found that 65% of adults who worked with a financial advisor said they felt more prepared for a recession than they did in 2008. The CFP Board reported that 73% of those who worked specifically with a CFP professional said they felt more prepared.

The survey showed that 59% of consumers were generally optimistic about their household or personal financial situations, while 52% were optimistic about the future of the U.S. economy.

At the same time, 63% of respondents expressed concern about the possibility of an economic recession, and 25% said they were very concerned.

Three in four respondents said a recession would affect their household, and more than a third said it would be a major blow.

“While we will not know precisely when the next recession will occur, it is imperative that consumers feel prepared and assured in their ability to withstand the pressures of a financial downturn,” Kevin Keller, CFP Board’s chief executive, said in a statement.

The polling was conducted Sept. 17 and 18 among a national sample of 2,196 adults and Sept. 24 to 26 among 2,200 adults.

Recession Views

CFP Board said three themes emerged from the polling.

1. Financial advisors make a difference 

Sixty-seven percent of adults working with a financial advisor said they would feel prepared for a recession, compared with 38% who are not working with one.

Moreover, 59% of people working with an advisor said that a recession would barely affect their household, if at all, and 77% said they were confident their advisor would successfully manage their finances through a recession.

2. Women are more concerned, feel less prepared 

Sixty-eight percent of women in the survey said they were concerned about a potential recession, compared with 58% of men. Asked whether they were prepared for such an outcome, 51% of men but only 36% of women said yes.

However, these numbers improved when posed to men and women who work with financial advisors, CFP Board said. The survey found that 77% of men and 58% of women with a financial advisor felt prepared for a recession — increases of 26 and 22 percentage points.

3. Homeowners feel more prepared 

Fifty-one percent of homeowners, compared with 36% of non-homeowners, said they felt more financially prepared for a recession than they did during 2008.

Overall, homeowners had much more confidence about their finances and recession preparedness than those who do not own a home — 67% of homeowners versus 51% of non-homeowners.