Advisers share their clients' biggest concerns right now

Advisers, business owners and paraplanners share their thoughts

Isabel Baxter
clock • 1 min read
Advisers share their clients' biggest concerns right now

Advisers share the biggest concerns of their clients right now in a Professional Adviser poll.

The latest PA Asks revealed that the cost of living and the state of the economy were un-surprisingly mentioned the most when it came to client concerns.

More specifically, the market concerns mentioned were a worse recession, inflation, and interest rates.

Broader geopolitical issues were also raised as a concern.

One pundit even said that "the world" was a concern, with another saying, "the uncertainties of life".

Investment performance was also a concern that was mentioned by several respondents. This included maintaining buyer power of portfolios, return level, lack of growth in asset values, and fund performance.

Pundits also mentioned various elements of fiscal policies that are concerning clients including tax and spend.

One said: "There's lots of talk about what a Labour Party might do with inheritance tax or with the lifetime allowance."

Another respondent added: "World situation and lack of political will in this country."

Meanwhile, "regulatory overkill" was another client concern that one pundit highlighted.

On the other hand, a couple of respondents said their clients have "not much" or "nothing" that they are currently worried about.

In November, Fidelity International found that almost half (49%) of advisers said clients are increasingly worried about their financial wellbeing with levels of concern now at their highest since the launch of the study in 2020.

More than four-fifths (87%) of advisers said that the cost of living and inflation are the main drivers for unease amid their client base, and doubts about market returns (74%) are also a significant factor.

PA Asks is conducted each week to anonymously collate our readers' views on key news and trends. Respondents include independent and restricted advisers, paraplanners, and administrators. A new poll is released every week! To take part, email our research team here.

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