ARQ Wealth surveyed 55 of our clients in early 2025 about their financial priorities, confidence levels, economic optimism, and regrets.
The results show that most of our clients are interested in preparing and preserving their wealth for retirement. And while they are generally optimistic about the outlook for the US economy over the next year, they have several concerns, namely volatility in global politics and the stock market.
Lastly, several clients regret not seeking professional advice and investing sooner.
Preserving Wealth and Retirement Readiness are Clients’ Leading Financial Priorities
Preserving wealth and preparing for retirement are the top financial priorities for our clients.
When asked what their primary financial priority was for the next five years, 51% of our clients said wealth preservation.
Another 26% said retirement readiness, while 13% said growing their investments.
Financial Priorities by Age
Preserving wealth as a primary financial priority was a consistent answer across all age groups.
The largest financial priorities for those younger than 59 were growing their investments and retirement readiness.
For clients ages 60-69, retirement readiness and preserving wealth were the primary priorities.
For clients over the age of 70, the top priority (by far) was to preserve wealth. After working so hard for decades to build and grow their nest egg, it’s reasonable that their primary concern is protecting their hard work.
The Vast Majority of Our Clients are Financially Confident
When asked to rate their level of financial confidence on a scale of 1-10 (10 being extremely confident), 80% of our clients provided a rating of 7 or higher.
One-in-five clients provided a rating of 9-10.
While we cannot take full credit for these feelings, we like to believe that our client-centric customer policies have contributed to building this confidence over the years.
For example, we prioritize building long-term relationships and help build trust by working under a fee-only structure. This eliminates the conflicts of interest found at many other wealth management firms.
Additionally, we conduct regular meetings to stay up-to-date on our clients’ financial goals and ensure that every action we take is guided by what is best for our clients.
Geopolitical Tensions and Stock Market Volatility are Investors’ Biggest Concerns in 2025
Global geopolitical tensions and stock market volatility are the most concerning factors for our clients in 2025, accounting for nearly 60% of respondents.
Not far behind was inflation, which 24% of respondents said was their biggest economic concern in 2025.
At the midway point of 2025, two of these concerns (stock market volatility and inflation) have largely been unrealized.
All three major indices have recovered their losses from the beginning of the year, and inflation has consistently declined for months, inching closer and closer to the Federal Reserve’s target of 2%.
While global geopolitical tensions are still high, it’s unlikely that overseas conflicts between other countries will impact domestic business growth and consumer spending (two key economic growth drivers). In other words, while it’s common to see headlines warning of global conflicts, it’s historically unlikely that these conflicts will impact your retirement plans.
Most Clients are Generally Optimistic About the US Economy
A little over half of our clients (55%) rated their optimism about the US economy over the next 12 months (on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being extremely optimistic) as seven or higher.
Nearly one-in-five respondents (18%) provided a score of four or lower, while the remaining 27% gave middling scores of five or six.
Economic Optimism by Age
When broken out by age, the average level of optimism showed a subtle U-curve.
The three groups most optimistic about the state of the economy are those under 50, 70-79, and 80-89.
Those aged 70-89 have presumably already been retired for years and have likely transitioned their portfolio from growth to fixed income assets, thus giving them less reason to be nervous during periods of volatility.
Those age 50 or lower were also optimistic about the economy, which is unsurprising as well, since this demographic has the longest time horizon until retirement. A short-term market dip will have recovered long before this group is preparing to make withdrawals from their IRA or 401(k).
Many Clients Wish They Had Started Wealth Building Sooner
When asked what their biggest regret was in regards to building wealth, 22% of respondents said not seeking professional advice earlier, while another 18% said not starting their wealth building sooner.
Other regrets included taking too little risk (13%) and relying on poor advice (11%).
Due to the compounding nature of money and interest, it’s best to start investing as early as possible.
However, while most younger people recognize the importance of financial planning, they inevitably prioritize their careers, personal lives, and families, leaving financial planning for “later in life.”
If you haven’t created a financial plan yet, please heed our clients’ regrets and speak with a financial advisor today to start your journey.
Ready to Tackle Your Financial Goals?
We hope that you’ve found our ARQ Wealth 2025 Client Survey insights valuable, and thank you for reading.
If you are ready to take on your financial goals, speak with a financial professional from ARQ Wealth by using our contact form or calling (480) 214-9572.