NEW YORK — In the vast financial cosmos, where risks and opportunities dance in an intricate ballet, investors harness the power of insight and astute decision-making to shape the trajectory of prosperity. That being said, nearly eight in 10 (78%) American investors are rethinking their financial future — especially high earners.
That’s according to a recent poll of 1,000 U.S. investors, which revealed 85 percent of high earners (those with a household income between $150,000 and $199,999) were likely to reexamine their approach to their finances.
Most investors (62%) already have a strategy to build wealth and over three-fourths (77%) believe it is not only important to save for retirement, but to also pass on wealth to their families.
Most common investments
Conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Cadre, the survey found that while the most common investments over the years were stocks (57%), cryptocurrency (55%) and bonds (49%), investors are now expressing interest in learning more about other investment opportunities, such as real estate (44%).
Of those invested in commercial real estate (525 respondents), 53 percent are very confident that their current strategy will help them reach their wealth goals, while only 19 percent of those not invested in commercial real estate say the same. That said, if opportunities such as the potential for steady income (52%), inflation protection (50%) and tax benefits or incentives (48%) presented themselves, investors would take advantage.
“Our research shows people continue to be more open to exploring alternative investments, perhaps in response to increasing economic instability,” says Cadre CEO, Ryan Williams, in a statement. “While common investments such as stocks and bonds are impacted by market cycles, commercial real estate is one asset class that can potentially offer a hedge against inflation and steady cash flow for future-minded investors.”
The insecurity of investing
The research also aimed to uncover how investors are reimagining their retirement and savings. Currently, most are using brokerage accounts (65%), traditional checking and savings accounts (60%) and traditional or Roth IRAs (55%) to save for retirement.
But these approaches are impacted by unpredictable factors such as inflation (42%), health care expenses (38%) and the stock market (36%). Among respondents with $150,000 in their stock portfolios, more than 80 percent have lost money in the last two years. More than three-quarters (77%) of investors say the economy is making them nervous about their retirement and just over half (52%) are open to modifying their retirement timeframe.
That doesn’t mean it’s being written off entirely. Results also showed that respondents are open to adjusting the methods they use to save (58%) as well as how much they’re saving (58%) and spending (56%).
Why commercial real estate?
Sometimes, that could mean reconsidering whether to rent or buy. Thirty-five percent of respondents claimed buying a home was more cost-effective than renting an apartment, which only 17 percent of respondents thought to be more practical, while 36 percent believed both options were equally worthwhile.
“According to our data, those who have invested in commercial real estate are much more likely to be ‘very confident’ in their ability to retire comfortably than those who haven’t (62% vs. 23%). With risk-adjusted returns as well as the flexibility of choice between individual projects or diversified funds, commercial real estate may be an option for those looking for a safer investment that can help them secure their financial future,” adds Williams.
Survey methodology:
This random double-opt-in survey of 1,000 U.S. adults who invest was commissioned by Cadre Advance between March 27 and March 31, 2023. It was conducted by market research company OnePoll, whose team members are members of the Market Research Society and have corporate membership to the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) and the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR).