Advisers Say Clients Like Managed Accounts

Alternative investments (52%) ranked second in the results of Brinker Capital’s second quarter Brinker Barometer, a quarterly gauge of financial adviser confidence and sentiment regarding the economy, retirement savings, investing and market performance.

The next most favorable investment vehicles are exchange-traded funds (45%), and stock mutual funds (39%), according to a Brinker press release. Advisers identified individual stocks (29%) and individual bonds (28%) as topping the “losing favor’ list, and bond mutual funds showed an almost 100% increase in “losing favor’ quarter over quarter (13% in Q2 vs. 7% in Q1).

Twenty-seven percent of advisers identified procrastination as the chief obstacle to their clients saving for retirement, the release said. Other obstacles included extravagant lifestyles (18%), children’s college education (14%), health care costs (14%), and lack of concern (11%).

Overall, survey respondents were optimistic about the future of the country’s economy, with 81% saying they are either “highly confident’ or “somewhat confident’ about the economic outlook. This is an increase from 72% in the first quarter of 2007.

Advisers selected Washington policies (51%) and taxes (51%) as the issues that most negatively impact their clients’ accounts, followed by geopolitical developments (50%) and stock market volatility (47%).

Brinker Barometer results are based on responses from 205 advisers affiliated with insurance companies, independent broker-dealers and in sole practice. More information is at www.brinkercapital.com.