While only a quarter of RIAs believe that stock prices will increase by year-end, 62% of those surveyed by TD Ameritrade Institutional are bullish on the market in 2021.
TD's midyear RIA sentiment survey update also revealed that advisory firms have fared pretty well during the pandemic. Fifty-eight percent of RIAs have continued to onboard new clients, with client bases increasing nearly 6%. Forty-three percent report AUM increases of 8% on average, and 40% of RIAs have seen revenues increase at a similar rate.
More than 60% of RIAs are back in their offices, the survey found, with 36% juggling in-office and remote work schedules to allow for social distancing. Concerns about a rise in COVID-19 cases were holding 42% of advisers back from returning to the physical office, while an additional 31% were worried about staff morale, health and general safety.
To compensate for fewer physical meetings, 68% of those surveyed have increased the frequency of their client communications. Eighty-eight percent said the quality of those interactions is as good as, if not better than, pre-pandemic meetings. Video conferencing is now regularly used by 84% of advisers.
A separate survey of RIAs by ETrade Financial found that over half (52%) say they are bearish on their economic outlook for the fourth quarter, up six percentage points from the previous survey in March.
In addition, the survey found that 56% of advisers are actively managing risks associated with political instability for clients, which is 24 percentage points greater than the portion who said that in March. Managing market volatility for clients remains at the top of the advisers’ risk list at 81%, although that's down four percentage points since March.
The top mistake advisers see their clients making is attempting to time the market (51%), up six percentage points since March. On the bright side, 41% of the RIAs surveyed said client portfolios have fully recovered since the downturn.
A new analysis finds long-running fiscal woes coupled with impacts from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act stand to erode the major pillar for retirement income planning.
Caz Craffy, whom the Department of Justice hit with a 12-year prison term last year for defrauding grieving military families, has been officially exiled from the securities agency.
After years or decades spent building deep relationships with clients, experienced advisors' attention and intention must turn toward their spouses, children, and future generations.
The customer’s UBS financial advisor allegedly mishandled an options strategy called a collar, according to the client’s attorney.
An expansion to a 2017 TCJA provision, a permanent increase to the standard deduction, and additional incentives for non-itemizers add new twists to the donate-or-wait decision.
Orion's Tom Wilson on delivering coordinated, high-touch service in a world where returns alone no longer set you apart.
Barely a decade old, registered index-linked annuities have quickly surged in popularity, thanks to their unique blend of protection and growth potential—an appealing option for investors looking to chart a steadier course through today's choppy market waters, says Myles Lambert, Brighthouse Financial.
