Gen X investors feeling underserved as affluent investors split on advisor satisfaction

Affluent US investors remain broadly satisfied with their financial advisors, but a new survey from FTSE Russell highlights a growing disconnect: members of Generation X are more likely than other age groups to feel overlooked and stressed about their financial futures, even as they enter their peak earning and spending years .

The 2025 Wealth Pulse Survey, which polled 750 US investors with at least $250,000 in investable assets, found that eight in 10 respondents are satisfied with their portfolios and most feel equipped to weather ongoing market volatility.

However, the report from FTSE Russell reveals a sharp generational divide. While 72% of Baby Boomers and 69% of Millennials say they are very satisfied with their advisors, only 57% of Gen Xers report the same level of satisfaction. Just under half of Gen X respondents strongly agree that their advisors provide solutions tailored to their needs, compared to two-thirds of Millennials .

This sense of being underserved is compounded by broader financial anxieties. Forty percent of Gen X investors say they feel stressed when thinking about their portfolios, a higher rate than either Boomers (31%) or Millennials (29%). More than two-fifths of Gen Xers are concerned about meeting their financial goals over the next five years, reflecting the lingering impact of recent market volatility and economic uncertainty .

Ryan Sullivan, head of buy side Americas at FTSE Russell, said the findings highlight an opportunity for advisors to strengthen relationships with Gen X and Millennial clients.

“Most respondents clearly value their financial advisors’ advice, which has made them more confident about navigating further turmoil in the markets and staying on track for retirement,” Sullivan said.

He added that Gen X and Millennials “revealed very different views on investing from Boomers, potentially creating an opportunity for advisors to build stronger relationships with these investors by thoughtfully addressing their unique needs and concerns."

The FTSE Russell findings echo recent research from Fidelity, which found that just over half of Gen Xers are confident they will be able to retire on their own terms, and one-third expect to work in retirement to supplement their income. Gen Xers, who are often balancing the needs of both children and aging parents, hold the most negative retirement outlook among all generations surveyed.

Despite these challenges, Gen X’s influence in the US economy is substantial. According to other research from NielsenIQ, Gen Xers are in their peak expenditure years and command over 30% of US household spending, despite representing only about one-fifth of the population. Their role as “caretaker consumers” – simultaneously supporting children and aging parents – means their financial decisions ripple across multiple generations.

FTSE Russell's survey also found that while 47% of investors own index funds, 50% have a shared expectation that active funds will outperform passive funds in 2025. Still, the latest Active/Passive Barometer study by Morningstar suggests stock-picking funds still have some catching up to do as just 33% of active mutual funds and ETFs outdid their passive peers on an asset-weighted basis.

"Though just a third (33%) of investors either own or are familiar with buffer ETFs, they appeal to almost three quarters (72%) of affluent investors," FTSE Russell said.