WealthCounsel and Trusts & Estates unveiled the preliminary results of their annual electronic survey to identify trends in the industry and to probe the mindset of professional advisors regarding the impact of the economy on their clients. The results indicate that estate-planning professionals aren’t optimistic about the nation’s economy and cite partisan gridlock on Capitol Hill. Complete findings from the survey will be published in a full report in January 2012 and will be available on the WealthCounsel website at www.wealthcounsel.com, as well as in the January issue of Trusts & Estates. But in the meantime, here’s a sneak peak at some of the findings.
Who Responded?
Of the 1,085 respondents, 87 percent were estate-planning attorneys, while the remaining professionals were comprised of certified public accountants, certified financial planners, registered reps and insurance professionals.
Clients
The post-2008 recession has caused serious concern among business-owner clients. One in five survey respondents report that many of their clients have simply gone out of business. About 40 percent of those surveyed indicate that business clients have postponed the hiring of new employees and have taken on a “bunker mentality,” waiting for an economic recovery.
To read the full article from our sister publication, Trusts & Estates, click here.
