Consumers with between $50,000 and $250,000 in assets available for investment said they are highly satisfied with the advice they receive from their credit unions and banks.
Released by Bank of America Jan. 24, the Merrill Edge Report, showed that the mass affluent seek trusted financial advice from financial professionals (53%) and their bank or credit union (52%) more often than their friends and family (36%).
Still, of the 1,000 persons questioned for the study, 67% said they would like to know more about how federal and local regulations affect their finances and investments. Fifty-eight percent want access to a complete picture of finances and investments in one place. Another 57% said they would like to know how to appropriately allocate assets across investment options, more about the financial markets (55%), and how to better manage cash flow (50%).
Balancing both short and long-term financial needs is a priority for a majority (63%) of these investorst, but they struggle to accomplish both goals, according to the study. In the last year, 28% said they have tapped into their long-term investments, such as retirement and college savings accounts, in order to meet short-term financial demands, including monthly living expenses like bills or groceries and a mortgage payment or car loan.
