Americans' trust in financial planners took a hit during the recession, and they're not confident the economy will rebound over the next year. Yet people who have a personal-finance plan—however vague—are more optimistic and willing to contribute to the economy, according to a survey released Thursday.
And despite their mistrust, most people would happily sit down with an advisor to work out a formal financial plan, according to the KRC Research survey, conducted in partnership with the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc.
"Trust in financial planners is shaken due to the recent financial crisis. However, if given one hour with a financial planner, people would take advantage of it, focusing on retirement and budget planning," the survey's key findings say.
The survey was conducted with 1,011 adults 18 years and older between June 2 and June 6.
Having a plan of attack affects a person's outlook, and those who report having a financial plan are much more optimistic than those who don't. The majority of Americans believe that everyone should have a financial plan in place, though "most simply have some goals in their head that they are working toward," the survey concludes.