“Thirty-eight percent of U.S. investors have a written financial plan to help them achieve their investment and retirement goals,” writes Jeffrey M. Jones on gallup.com. “Retired investors (43%) are more likely than non-retired investors (36%) to have a written financial plan, as is typically the case. However, the percentage of non-retired investors with a written plan is up significantly since early in 2011 (24%).” Other excerpts from Jones’ article:
“A financial plan typically consists of investors’ goals — commonly for retirement savings, but also for college savings, insurance needs, taxes and major purchases. Having a written plan with specific goals and formal steps to take should increase the likelihood that people will achieve those goals. Those without a formal written plan may instead have vague notions as to what their financial aims are and how to attain them. Still others may not have even thought about long-range financial matters.
“In three separate surveys conducted in 2011, an average 26% of non-retired investors said they had a written financial plan. That increased to an average 31% in 2012 and 35% in 2013 and has been at about that level since.
“There has been a very slight increase among retired investors since 2011, from an average 37% in 2011 to an average 39% since then.
“The rise in the percentage of both non-retired and retired investors with written financial plans coincides with the long-running U.S. stock bull market, the drop in the U.S. unemployment rate, as well as generally improving confidence in the U.S. economy.
“The results are based on the Wells Fargo/Gallup Investor and Retirement Optimism Index survey, conducted May 22-31. The survey defines investors as those with $10,000 or more in investable assets.
“Overall, 70% of investors say they have a financial plan, but barely more than half of those with a plan, 54%, say it is a written plan. Those figures translate to 38% of all U.S. investors having a written plan. Retired investors are a bit more likely than nonretired investors to say they have a plan and to say it is a written plan.
“Investors who do not have a written plan are most likely to cite a lack of time (29%) or not having thought about it (27%) as a reason they do not have a written plan. Another 18% say they do not find written financial plans to be useful.
Most Investors with Plan Follow It Closely, Are Confident in It
“Having a financial plan is a key first step in reaching one’s investment goals, but those goals will likely be harder to achieve if investors do not follow the plan. The majority of investors with a written financial plan, 53%, say they follow that plan ‘very closely’. Another 39% say they follow it ‘somewhat closely’.
“One way investors can keep on track with their financial plan is to review it on a regular basis. The vast majority of investors with a written financial plan, 88%, say they review it at least annually, including 39% who do so more than once a year.
“Another way for investors to stay on track with their plan is to enlist the help of a professional adviser. The vast majority of investors with a written plan, 74%, say they developed the plan with the help of an investment adviser, including 80% of substantial investors and 61% of less substantial investors. Substantial investors are those with $100,000 or more of investable assets.
“Investors with a written plan tend to be confident that it is adequately designed to help them reach their goals. Four in 10, 42%, are highly confident of this, with another 48% somewhat confident.”