Client & Advisor Update - June 20, 2011

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Some of the Wealthy Desire Greater Financial Discipline

Despite their wealth, nearly half of the rich wish they had better self-control over their financial behavior.

A new survey by Barclay’s found that 41 percent of high-net-worth individuals say they would like to have more self-control over their financial behavior. The need for more financial discipline is more likely to be felt by those at the wealthiest end of the scale, at over $15 million, where 45 percent of respondents wish they had more self-control. Those who desire greater financial discipline are also less likely to be satisfied with their financial situation.

The report is based on a global survey of more than 2,000 high-net worth individuals in 20 countries. It considers the different financial personality traits amongst wealthy investors, and the different self-imposed rules and strategies that they put in place to deal with these traits.

Emotional trading can potentially cost investors up to 20 percent in returns over a decade. The report found that investors who frequently use financial self-discipline strategies (such as avoiding frequent examination of a portfolio to resist the temptation to trade on short-term market trends and stray from a long-term investment strategy) are on average 12 percent wealthier than those who do not.

Globally, respondents in the Asia-Pacific region had the greatest desire for financial discipline, particularly in Taiwan and Hong Kong. In contrast, developed markets show the least desire for financial discipline, particularly in Spain, Australia and the United States.

Compared to the rest of the world, the wealthy in the U.S. are more satisfied with their financial situation, ranking fifth among investors from the 20 countries surveyed. Despite this satisfaction, 29 percent still wish they could take a more disciplined approach to their financial behavior.

Regionally among U.S. investors, those in the Midwest and West demonstrate the highest levels of satisfaction with their financial situation (84 percent and 77 percent respectively), while those in the Northeast have the lowest (75 percent).

This week’s contributor is Staff from Accounting Today, June 14, 2011.