The Challenge That Self-Directed Investors Pose to Advisors

A recently released Broadridge survey of 1,000 investors with $10,000 or more in investable assets found that 52% use self-directed brokerage accounts and about one-third of them expect to increase their trading frequency over the next 12 months.

Of those investors who have self-directed brokerage accounts, half use those accounts exclusively and slightly more than half also work with a financial advisor. About one-third of the 1,000 investors surveyed work exclusively with an advisor, and almost all investors (96%) who work with an advisor were satisfied with the relationship.

Among those investors who don’t currently use a financial advisor, 44% said they were likely to start working with one over the next two years to reduce financial stress. A little more than half of millennial investors said they were likely to employ an advisor because of concerns that they’re not on track to meet their financial goals.

“Everyday investors are demanding a say in when and how they invest and are increasing their focus on financial planning, especially in the wake of unprecedented market volatility,” said Andrew Guillette, vice president of distribution insights, Americas, at Broadridge, in a statement. “Financial advisors now sit at a critical juncture where they need to directly demonstrate their value by providing client-centric tools, products and advice.”

The survey found that across generations investors prefer online or mobile apps for buying and selling assets and reviewing their financial accounts and for daily banking purposes and access to financial education.