Sixty Percent of Retail Investors Feel Better off Financially Compared to a Year Ago According to the Latest Schwab Wealth Management Monitor

Business Wire

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Charles Schwab today released its latest retail client behavior and sentiment report covering the second half of 2017.

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Terri Kallsen, Executive Vice President and head of Schwab Investor Services (Photo: Business Wire)

Key highlights from the “Schwab Wealth Management Monitor” include:

Schwab retail clients overall were net buyers during the second half of 2017.
Average cash allocation across all retail clients decreased to 18.5% (from 21.1% a year ago).
Nearly 60% of Schwab clients feel better off financially compared to a year ago – the highest rating in five years.
Client outlook for the U.S. stock market is down slightly with 40% feeling bullish compared to 42% a year ago; 41% now feel bearish – a 10% increase from a year ago.
The political landscape in Washington and the possibility of a stock market correction are the top investor concerns.

“There are signs of continued positivity from retail investors with an increasing number of clients feeling better off compared to a year ago,” said Charles Schwab Executive Vice President and head of Investor Services Terri Kallsen. “But we’re also seeing some bears come out of hibernation due to concerns about a possible stock market correction and uncertainty in Washington D.C.”

The Q3/Q4 2017 Schwab Wealth Management Monitor report represents more than seven million retail client accounts and more than $1.2 trillion in assets.

The full report is available here.

About Charles Schwab

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Disclosures

Sentiment findings based on an online internal survey of 1,067 Schwab Investor Services clients between December 4-14, 2017. Data analyzed by Koski Research.

Through its operating subsidiaries, The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE: SCHW) provides a full range of securities brokerage, banking, money management and financial advisory services to individual investors and independent investment advisors. Its broker-dealer subsidiary, Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (member SIPC, www.sipc.org), and affiliates offer a complete range of investment services and products including an extensive selection of mutual funds; financial planning and investment advice; retirement plan and equity compensation plan services; compliance and trade monitoring solutions; referrals to independent fee-based investment advisors; and custodial, operational and trading support for independent, fee-based investment advisors through Schwab Advisor Services. Its banking subsidiary, Charles Schwab Bank (member FDIC and an Equal Housing Lender), provides banking and lending services and products. Koski Research is not affiliated with the Charles Schwab Corporation or its affiliates. More information is available at www.schwab.com and www.aboutschwab.com.