Advisors' Interest in Crypto Assets Rising: FPA Survey

More than a quarter of financial advisors (26%) participating in the FPA’s annual investing survey indicated that they plan to increase their use or recommendations of cryptocurrencies in client portfolios over the next 12 months, up from less than 1% a year ago.

Of the 529 respondents to the survey, 15% said they use or recommend cryptocurrencies to clients, compared with 1% a year ago.

“It is clear from these results that we’ve reached an inflection point in the wealth management space,” said Tyrone Ross, CEO of Onramp Invest, a technology company providing RIAs access to crypto assets, which helped conduct the survey along with the FPA and its Journal of Financial Planning. “Advisors are now faced with a client base that demands knowledge, access and advice from their advisor on crypto assets.”

Indeed, according to the survey, 49% of advisors indicated that clients have asked them about investing in cryptocurrencies this year, up from 17% in 2020. An equal percentage of clients asked about the effects of tax changes on their portfolio.

“Addressing tax concerns represents an opportunity for financial planners to be of great value to clients,” said Dan Moisand, certified financial planner and practitioner editor of the Journal of Financial Planning, in a statement. “Taxes are easily one of the largest expenses clients will pay in their lifetimes.”

President Joe Biden has proposed raising the marginal tax rate on high earners — $509,300 for married couples and $452,700 for single filers — from 37% to 39.6%, and raising the capital gains tax on individuals with adjusted gross incomes over $1 million from 23.8% to 43.4%.

Biden’s tax plan and overall budget are just proposals. Congress has to weigh in before any changes could take effect.

More than half the respondents to the survey said clients have asked about volatility and the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on their portfolios.

The survey asked advisors which investment vehicles they use or recommend for clients and which they expect to increase and to decrease in the next 12 months.

ETFs led for current investments (64%) followed by cash (57%) and mutual funds (48%) — all  lower than year-ago percentages. ETFs, cryptocurrencies and ESG funds led the list of investments advisors expect to increase in the next 12 months, and individual bonds, mutual funds and individual stocks topped the list for those investments they expect to decrease over that time.

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