In financial matters, as in sports, it’s impossible to win without
playing offense AND defense. A new national poll conducted by MetLife
shows that many mass affluent Americans have listened to financial
advice when it comes to playing offense and investing, but their assets
and future plans may still be at risk. The results of the MetLife
Financial Planning Perspectives Poll show that 55 percent of those
surveyed do not believe that protecting their assets is as important as
growing those assets.
That is why the MetLife Premier Client Group is enlisting the help of
pro football Hall of Famer Jerry Rice in an effort to highlight the need
for a holistic approach to financial planning. The initiative
underscores the notion that Americans must go beyond solely growing
their assets if they are to achieve their long-term financial goals.
They must also safeguard those assets with the advice of a team of
financial professionals—that’s the “MetLife Perspective” on financial
planning.
“As every financial professional knows, investors who aren’t
complementing their ‘offensive’ asset growth strategies with ‘defensive’
protection strategies are exposing themselves to considerable risk,”
said Eric Steigerwalt, executive vice president of MetLife’s U.S. Retail
division. “While they may be diligently accumulating wealth for things
such as their children’s education or retirement, it’s imperative that
they also take steps to help safeguard their assets. The advice of
qualified financial professionals can help them to build truly
diversified portfolios, ones designed to grow their wealth and protect
it at the same time.”
Taking the Clip Board: Jerry Rice
Considered to be the greatest receiver in professional football history,
Hall of Famer Jerry Rice was known for his legendary work habits and
training routine. He holds the pro football records for receptions,
touchdown receptions and receiving yards. Now, he’s bringing that same
passion and dedication to the MetLife Premier Client Group and its
efforts to help Americans better understand how to properly prepare for
their financial futures.
“In football, you can’t win without taking a balanced approach. You’ve
got to have a strong offense to score points and an agile defense to
stop your opponent. It takes a team of specialists to come up with that
kind of strategy,” said Rice. “I see the MetLife Premier Client Group
taking that same approach to financial planning for their clients.”
“Jerry’s story is one of accomplishment and perseverance,” said Paul
LaPiana, executive vice president of the MetLife Premier Client Group.
“He understands that a diversified approach to financial planning can
benefit Americans as they prepare for whatever the future holds, and we
believe he will also serve as a source of inspiration for our
representatives and advisors.”
The Poll Results: MetLife Financial Planning Perspectives Poll
Conducted by Penn Schoen Berland, the MetLife Financial Planning
Perspectives Poll surveyed 250 adults with investable assets of $100,000
to $1 million. It was designed to determine people’s approaches to
financial management, their perceptions of growing and safeguarding
their assets, and their views on the role that financial professionals
play in their planning. The survey also sought to better understand
their thoughts on their individual financial situations.
To encourage Americans to reflect on their current approach to financial
management, MetLife has posted an abridged version of the poll at http://metlife.com/planningpoll
that individuals can take for themselves to see how their answers
compare to those of survey respondents.
Some key findings:
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A majority of investors do not understand the importance of a
balanced approach. Nearly three in four of those surveyed (72
percent) say they have a financial plan in place for their futures. An
equal number (72 percent) believe they are on the right track in
preparing for retirement. Yet at the same time, more than half of
those surveyed (55 percent) said that protecting their assets with
products such as insurance and growing their assets with products such
as mutual funds were not equally important. Roughly two thirds of
those surveyed don’t know exactly how much coverage they should have
in place when it comes to protection products like life insurance,
annuities and disability insurance.
-
Consequently, consumers are more readily investing in their
offensive approach. Sixty-three percent of those surveyed expect
that they will be able to retire during their 60s, and nearly three
quarters are participating in retirement and savings/401(k) plans.
Notably, a much smaller percentage have invested in protection
products such as annuities (only 37 percent), long-term care insurance
(34 percent) and disability insurance (32 percent), even though
threats to current earnings capacity and future income streams can put
their future plans at risk.
“This poll confirms that helping people develop more diversified
strategies—ones aimed at also protecting their wealth—requires an
ongoing educational effort,” LaPiana said. “Focusing most of your
energies on growing your assets is an offense-only approach. At the
MetLife Premier Client Group, we believe you need to pay equal attention
to a defensive strategy by selecting the right mix of insurance products
so you can protect both your income and your assets—right now, and for
future generations.”
Other findings from the MetLife Financial Planning Perspectives Poll:
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More than half of those surveyed (56 percent) expect the economy to
improve over the next six months.
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More than half (55 percent) expect their financial situation to
improve in the next five to ten years. In that group, 62 percent
believe their situation will improve because their investments will
grow.
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When making investment decisions, nearly half of those surveyed (45
percent) rely at least in part on the guidance of a professional
financial advisor, broker or investment advisor.
-
Of those surveyed who use a financial advisor, more than a third
(37 percent) communicate with their advisor every few months.
Nearly one in five (13 percent) communicate with their advisor
more than once a month.
-
Of those who expect to retire after age 65, a large portion (65
percent) cite staying active and productive as reasons why they’ll
continue to work. More than half (52 percent) say they need the income.
Penn Schoen Berland gathered responses to a series of questions from
October 7 through October 10.
About the MetLife Premier Client Group
In October 2013, MetLife re-launched its U.S. retail distribution
organization as the MetLife Premier Client Group. The organization’s
foundation is a workforce of highly trained and credentialed financial
services representatives who subscribe to a core financial planning
philosophy that balances asset growth and protection, who treat each
client as unique and who provide a team-oriented approach to client
service.
About MetLife
MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET), through its subsidiaries and affiliates
(“MetLife”), is one of the largest life insurance companies in the
world. Founded in 1868, MetLife is a global provider of life insurance,
annuities, employee benefits and asset management. Serving approximately
100 million customers, MetLife has operations in nearly 50 countries and
holds leading market positions in the United States, Japan, Latin
America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. For more information, visit www.metlife.com.
MetLife Premier Client Group is the distribution channel name for the
offices of MLIC. Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (MLIC), New York,
NY 10166. Securities products and investment advisory services offered
by MetLife Securities, Inc. (MSI) (member FINRA/SIPC) and a registered
investment adviser, 1095 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10036.
MLIC and MSI are MetLife companies.
Copyright Business Wire 2014