Spectrem's annual trust report reviews the growth of the trust industry, the growth and usage of collective investment funds as well as assets managed by institutional trustees.

Millennial and Gen X investors have come of investment age, marking a shift in wealth ownership in the United States.  This asset shift comes with the need for financial advisors and providers to understand how these investors want to engage with financial professionals and comprehend their attitudes and preferences regarding financial matters. 

Reveals how advisors can communicate in order to enhance and develop client loyalty. Reviews client expectations for frequency, timing, method and content of communication.

Investors identify how their advisor relationship will evolve as they assess the past 12 months of turmoil.  Will they require more advice or less?  How satisfied are they with their advisors during the market volatility of 2020?  What services are lacking from their advisor.  How will the pandemic redefine the client-advisor relationship including communication methods.

Investors reassessed their overall financial wellness in 2020 as the market and economy took a dive due to the pandemic.  Were investors financially protected?  Did their investments include risk protection assets such as insurance?  Was their portfolio properly allocated to include assets not subject to the market volatility?  And as more financial transactions are digital, are they protected from hacking and other types of fraud?

How investors' emotions and behaviors are changing the definition of a wealth manager.  What services should be included in wealth management?  Is their advisor a wealth manager?  Are they willing to pay more for wealth management?

Market Insights is an indispensable tool for providers and advisors that profiles the state of the market and how investor demographics, preferences and behaviors have changed in today's economic environment. 

In the past 15 years, investors have lived through two recessions, Spectrem's President, George Walper Jr. compares and contrasts these recessions in a report published in the November/December edition for the Investment and Wealth Monitor.  Comparing and contrasting investor attitudes and behaviors from the 2008 economic crisis to the 2020 pandemic reveals several important differences.  Client expectations of their financial professional has also changed significantly from 2008 to 2020.  This report contrasts these two historic economic events so financial professionals can understand the new expectations of wealthy investors.

Financial advisors typically meet face-to-face with their clients at least annually with many meeting as frequently as quarterly.  But the pandemic has changed the habits and attitudes of investors regarding these meetings.  For most, any meetings in the last six months between financial advisors and their clients have been virtual.  Will this be the model for the future or will the traditional face-to-face model return.

Each month from now until the election, Spectrem will provide financial advisors with insights regarding investor attitudes relative to the election.