- Benzinga Advisor
- Posts
- Single Clients Are The Next Big Opportunity
Single Clients Are The Next Big Opportunity
Plus, the latest in market news.
Happy Sunday, and welcome to Benzinga’s financial advisor newsletter.
Today we're talking financial planning and the evolving client profile. As Americans marry later than ever, more individuals are building wealth and managing complex finances on their own. Read on to see why single clients may be the next big opportunity.
Plus, a look at all the top stories and market activity from this past week.
Advisor Spotlight: If you would like your company to be featured in our upcoming Advisor Spotlight, click here to send us an email.
INDUSTRY CHATTER
Typically, financial planning assumes a familiar path: most people eventually pair up. Two incomes. Shared expenses. Joint financial decisions.
But the timeline for that life stage is shifting, and that shift may be creating a larger pool of financially independent clients than many advisory firms expect.
Americans are now marrying later than ever due to a focus on education, careers, and financial stability. That’s why it’s no surprise that a record amount of those 40+ have never been married.
With more people spending longer stretches of adulthood making financial decisions entirely on their own, advisors have an opportunity to rethink their approach. Single clients aren’t just a temporary stage before marriage — they’re a growing segment managing careers, investments, and long-term goals independently.
Historically, many firms focused prospecting efforts on households — couples accumulating assets together, planning for children, or approaching retirement. But a growing number of potential clients are building wealth independently well before marriage, or sometimes without marrying at all.
A recent survey from Ally Bank highlights how this group thinks about money.
Roughly 61% of singles say they cover all their living expenses on their own. Yet only 33% view this as a financial disadvantage. In fact, 51% say being single gives them the freedom to manage their money exactly how they want.
That independence often shows up in their financial priorities. Singles in the survey were more likely to focus on near-term goals like increasing income or investing in education. Couples, by contrast, were more likely to prioritize longer-term family goals such as retirement or saving for children.
There’s also a behavioral dynamic advisors may recognize. Even though many singles feel financially capable, they report slightly higher levels of anxiety and worry about money than people in relationships. Managing finances alone means there’s no built-in sounding board when big decisions arise.
That’s where the advisor relationship can become particularly valuable. For single clients, an advisor often becomes the second voice in the room — helping validate decisions, reduce uncertainty, and bring structure to long-term planning.
As marriage continues to happen later and single households remain common, this group may represent a growing opportunity. Not just because there are more single individuals, but because many are building wealth — and making complex financial decisions — entirely on their own.
It was the kind of week that reminded investors how quickly the market narrative can shift, as a geopolitical shock, a surprising jobs decline and fresh tariff threats combined to shake confidence across Wall Street.
Energy markets set the tone.
The escalating conflict in Iran disrupted crude supplies and shut down traffic through the Strait of Hormuz — the narrow waterway that normally handles roughly 20% of the world's oil and natural gas shipments.
With parts of the route effectively closed and drone attacks targeting regional energy facilities, several oil-producing countries including Iraq and Kuwait reportedly curtailed production.
The disruptions helped push crude oil prices sharply higher. Oil surged toward $90 a barrel by midday Friday, up over 30% for the week, one of the biggest weekly jumps in history.
Chart: Crude Tops $90 For First Time Since 2023, Notch Strongest Week Ever
Energy Stocks Avoid Losses, Fuel-Consuming Industries Sink
Higher energy prices quickly rippled through financial markets.
Energy stocks were the only sector in the S&P 500 to finish the week in positive territory, while the remaining sectors ended firmly in the red.
Companies most sensitive to fuel costs suffered the heaviest declines.
Shares of cruise operators Royal Caribbean (RCL), Carnival (CCL) and Norwegian Cruise Line (NCLH) plunged between 15% and 22% during the week.
Airlines were also hit hard. Delta Air Lines (DAL), Southwest Airlines (LUV) and United Airlines (UAL) tumbled as investors worried that rising jet fuel costs could squeeze margins just as travel demand begins to soften.
Michigan-based automakers also struggled. Ford Motor (F) was among the worst performers in the S&P 500, falling roughly 15% by Friday afternoon. General Motors (GM) held up somewhat better but still finished the week about 5% lower.
Job Losses, Tariff Uncertainty Augmented Fears
Economic data added to the negative mood.
On Friday, the Labor Department reported that nonfarm payrolls unexpectedly fell by 92,000 in February, a sharp miss compared with expectations for 59,000 jobs added.
Revisions to prior months also erased an additional 69,000 jobs, suggesting the labor market may be losing momentum faster than previously thought. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate ticked up to 4.4% from 4.3%.
Adding another layer of uncertainty, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed the administration plans to implement a sweeping 15% global tariff within days — a move economists warn could add fresh inflationary pressure at a time when energy prices are already surging.
For investors, the message was clear: when geopolitics hits energy markets, it rarely stays confined there.
BENZINGA NEWSLETTER SPOTLIGHT
Want more of the news and insights you love? Join hundreds of thousands of readers and explore our other free newsletters for market updates, expert insights, and must-read stories delivered straight to your inbox.
Ring The Bell: Created for market enthusiasts by market enthusiasts, this twice-daily newsletter delivers top stories, fast movers, and hot trade ideas straight to your inbox. Sign up today.
Future Finance: Where fintech, crypto, and the future of finance collide. Future Finance is a perfect lunch read packed with quick bites for industry enthusiasts. Subscribe here.
Tech Trends: Get the inside scoop on AI, the hottest gadgets, and mind-blowing tech trends. Join today.
THE WEEK AHEAD
Economic Data
Monday: No major reports
Tuesday: NFIB optimism index, Existing home sales
Wednesday: Consumer price index (CPI), Monthly U.S. federal budget
Thursday: Initial jobless claims, U.S. trade deficit, Housing starts
Friday: GDP, PCE, Job openings, Consumer sentiment, Rig count
Earnings
Click here for the full calendar of economic data and earnings reports.
Reminder, if you would like to be featured in our upcoming Advisor Spotlight and showcase your business, click here to send us an email.
BEFORE YOU GO
Were you forwarded this email? Click here to subscribe.
And be sure to check out our other newsletters:
Ring The Bell: Created for market enthusiasts by market enthusiasts, this twice-daily newsletter delivers top stories, fast movers, and hot trade ideas straight to your inbox. Subscribe here.
Future Finance: Where fintech, crypto, and the future of finance collide. Future Finance is a perfect lunch read packed with quick bites for industry enthusiasts. Subscribe here.
Tech Trends: Get the inside scoop on AI, the hottest gadgets, and mind-blowing tech trends. Subscribe here.