Economic Environment and Stock Market have Most Impact on Investment Plans

Twenty-five percent of investors identified Stock Market Conditions as the primary factor impacting their investment plans. This is the highest concern level since October 2009, when 27% said that the Stock Market most impacted their investment plans, but still a significant drop from October of 2008 when 40% said they were most concerned about the Stock Market.
Not surprisingly, investors identified the Economic Environment as the next most important factor impacting their investments. Levels of concern have been hovering around 20% and slightly above for a little over a year now, except for last April, when concern dipped to 16%.
Concern over the Stock Market and Economic Environment were highest among Millionaire investors (29% and 25%, respectively) as opposed to the Affluent, who were less concerned about both factors (25% and 22%, respectively).
At 10%, Retirement was cited as the next most important factor impacting investment decisions, followed by Household Income (9%). With the elections over and the new Congress seated, the Political Climate is now, at 2%, considered a negligible investment factor. Household Cash Flow (also 2%) was also considered a minimal factor. Retirement and Household Income were of slightly more concern to Affluent investors than to Millionaires, while the Political Climate and Household Cash Flow were also considered marginal factors to both wealth levels.
With the economy appearing to be gaining momentum and recent strong showings in the Stock Market, the Economic Environment and Stock Market Conditions will continue to be the primary investment factors for investors as they seek to recover from the economic crisis.