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New Survey Reveals Financial Advisors Are Surprisingly Optimistic
Plus, the latest in market news.
Happy Sunday, and welcome to Benzinga’s financial advisor newsletter.
Today we’re talking about financial advisors, their outlook, and predictions for the remainder of the year and beyond. While the stock market continues to soar to new heights, it’s also been a rollercoaster ride this year too. Read on to see the latest financial advisor survey regarding retirement, tax climate, artificial intelligence, and more.
Plus, a look back at the last week of market activity.
Table of Contents
INDUSTRY CHATTER
While the stock market continues to soar and indexes keep setting records, this year hasn’t exactly been a smooth ride with the rollercoaster of tariff and trade wars, interest rate uncertainty, geopolitical tension and more.
With all the noise, investors remain on edge and high alert. And yet, when you ask financial advisors how things are going, many say the same thing — they’re optimistic.
A new survey from U.S. News-AdvisorFinder shows that financial advisors are going into next year with a positive outlook — not just for markets, but for their clients' overall financial well-being.
The Advisor Outlook Index polled advisors across the country on topics ranging from retirement readiness to taxes and technology adoption. Despite ongoing concerns about inflation, interest rates, and market volatility, the responses show a profession that’s steady — and in many cases, confident.
Here’s what stood out:
Retirement Readiness: 72% of advisors believe their clients will be better prepared to reach retirement goals over the next year. That’s a striking number, given the backdrop of Social Security worries and inflation. Roughly 15% said clients would be “much better” prepared, and 57% said “somewhat better.”
Taxes: Half of advisors expect client tax burdens to lighten in the coming year — likely in response to provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which includes expanded deductions and exemptions for certain groups. Only 7% predicted a heavier tax load with 50% predicting a lighter burden. The rest (44%) said no meaningful change.
Artificial Intelligence: 80% of advisors say they’re now using AI in their firms. Most use it for admin tasks — meeting notes, proposal generation, data entry — while others are applying it to research, content, and client communication.
AUM Growth: 59% of advisors expect their assets under management to grow by more than 10% in the next 12 months, while 39% expect growth between 1%-10%. Just 2% believe AUM will be flat. Older advisors (ages 45–64) were more bullish than their younger peers.
The Takeaway
It’s not every day you see optimism this broad-based — especially in a profession that tends to reward caution. What this survey suggests is that advisors, despite the noise, still believe in the fundamentals: clear planning, consistent strategy, and staying engaged with clients.
It also points to a gap between public sentiment and professional perspective. While many Americans are anxious about retirement and the economy, advisors are seeing real progress — not just in portfolios, but in client behavior. That may reflect stronger planning habits, better tools, or just more awareness around what it takes to retire securely.
And it’s worth noting that the profession itself is evolving quickly. With AI tools becoming part of daily workflows and tax policy shifting again, staying informed may be just as important as staying steady.
WEEKLY MARKET RECAP
After the shock of Friday, Oct. 10, when Donald Trump announced 100% tariffs on Chinese products, the president quickly softened his tone, assuring that trade relations "will be fine."
That sweetener was well received by markets, helping Wall Street rebound early in the week.
Powell's Dovish Tone Added Fuel To The Recovery
The recovery was also fueled by stronger-than-expected bank earnings and by dovish remarks from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.
Powell warned of mounting risks to employment, another indication that the central bank is likely to continue easing borrowing costs, bolstering bets on a rate cut later this month.
Big Banks Shine, But Cracks Emerge in Smaller Lenders
Major U.S. banks including JPMorgan (JPM), Goldman Sachs (GS), Bank of America (BAC), Citigroup (C), Wells Fargo (WFC) and Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) all beat analyst estimates, highlighting the resilience of the country's financial giants.
Yet cracks are beginning to show further down the ladder among smaller regional lenders.
Credit Concerns Resurface With Zions And Western Alliance
Markets were reminded of that fragility on Thursday, when a new wave of volatility hit the sector as several regional banks flagged credit problems. Zions Bank (ZION) disclosed it would record a $50 million charge-off in the third quarter, tied to two troubled commercial and industrial loans held by its California Bank & Trust unit.
Meanwhile, Western Alliance (WAL) revealed it had filed a lawsuit against a borrower alleging fraud. Shares of both banks plunged by double digits on Thursday, while the broader regional banking industry suffered its worst single-day loss since April.
Adding to the unease, JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon warned of rising credit risk during the earnings call, citing the recent bankruptcies of Tricolor Holdings, a subprime auto lender, and First Brands, an auto parts manufacturer. "When you see one cockroach, there's probably more," Dimon said.
Gold Surges To All-Time Highs
Gold continued its unstoppable rally, reaching new record highs of $4,350 per ounce — up more than 60% since the start of the year, marking its strongest performance since 1979.
Gold-mining stocks have soared by triple digits, and analysts suggest the rally may still be in its early stages.
Detroit Auto Stocks Find Relief Ahead of Earnings
For Michigan-based stocks, the week ended on a brighter note. Shares of General Motors (GM), Ford (F) and Stellantis N.V. (STLA) rebounded from last week's losses, up around 6%, 4.3%, and 6.2%, respectively, as improved trade and interest-rate sentiment lifted the auto sector.
Next week, GM and Ford will report quarterly earnings on Oct. 21 and 23, respectively.
THE WEEK AHEAD
Economic Data
Monday: U.S. leading economic indicators
Tuesday: Fed governor Christopher Waller speaks
Wednesday: Fed governor Michael Barr speaks
Thursday: Existing home sales, Fed governor Michael Barr speaks
Friday: Baker Hughes rig count
Earnings
Click here for the full calendar of economic data and earnings reports.
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