Average Workers Still Tepid on Stocks

Nearly three in four Americans (73%) say they are not more inclined to invest in the stock market, even after a stellar 2013, according to new research from Bankrate.com.

The hesitancy of U.S. workers to increase equity investments persists despite low interest rates on cash and fixed income, Bankrate says, suggesting individual investors are still not warming to equity assets after the shock of the financial crisis. This is true across all age groups and income levels, Bankrate says.

The findings are consistent with survey results from April 2012 and April 2013, Bankrate says, when 76% of Americans said they were not more inclined to invest in stocks.

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“Americans may be avoiding the buy-high, sell-low habit seen in previous market cycles, but only because they’re not buying at all,” says Greg McBride, Bankrate’s chief financial analyst. “An overly conservative investment stance compounds the problem that so many Americans have of not saving enough for longer-range goals like retirement.”

Bankrate also announced that its Financial Security Index slipped from 102.2 in March to 100.5 in April. The mixed result shows workers feel improved financial security compared with one year ago—as suggested by any index result above 100—but financial confidence is trending downward.

Three of the five factors considered by the index—job security, net worth and overall financial situation—all show consistent improvement relative to one year ago, but savings, another factor, has reflected deterioration every month since polling began in December 2010.

Bankrate says Americans’ comfort level with their debt swung from improvement to deterioration compared with one year ago. While this feeling is evident among all age groups, the results among income groups are mixed. Households with annual income above $75,000 and those between $30,000 and $49,999 seem to feel more comfortable with this year’s debt burden than last year’s.

On the other hand, households with annual income between $50,000 and $74,999 and those under $30,000 feel less comfortable with their debt now. Compared to last month’s poll, households with income between $50,000 and $74,999 experienced a significant decline in their comfort level with debt.

The survey was conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International and can be seen in its entirety here.

BNY Mellon Appoints Dreyfus Sales Leader

BNY Mellon Investment Management hired Ryland Pruett as national sales manager for The Dreyfus Corporation, a division of BNY Mellon providing mutual funds and separate account services.

Pruett gains responsibility for leading the firm’s sales effort through broker/dealer affiliates. Ryland brings over 22 years of field sales and leadership experience to the Dreyfus organization and is charged with building out the firm’s sales force and creating new efficiencies in distribution. 

In this newly created position, Pruett reports to Andrew Provencher, BNY Mellon executive vice president and head of U.S. retail sales. 

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“Ryland has a strong track record in building momentum for mutual fund strategies through broker/dealers,” Provencher says.  “He has led programs that significantly grew fund sales while diversifying distribution channels and products. He also has demonstrated an ability to identify new business opportunities and take advantage of them.” 

Pruett joins BNY Mellon from Neuberger Berman, where he was national sales manager for the wirehouse channel. Prior to joining Neuberger Berman, he held field sales and leadership roles at INVESCO.

Pruett received his bachelor’s degree in finance from Georgia State University.

More information about BNY Mellon and its subsidiary companies can be found at www.bnymellon.com.

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