Clients at all income levels can benefit from budgeting, advisors say.
Financial advisors and consumers don't see eye to eye on spending and saving or on budgeting and managing money, according to new research by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards in collaboration with Heart+Mind Strategies, a consulting firm.
Seventy-eight percent of consumers surveyed said it was easy to save money, but only 39% of advisors agreed. Similarly, 88% of consumers believed it was easy to manage money, while just 30% of advisors agreed.
"Just like a doctor needs to know a person's symptoms before making a diagnosis, so does a financial advisor need to know what a consumer is spending and saving before developing a comprehensive financial plan," CFP Board CEO Kevin Keller said in a statement.
"While there may be some hesitation by consumers to ask for help, if financial advisors don't proactively engage them on budgeting and cash flow needs, they are missing a clear opportunity to help their clients take control of their financial futures."
The study was based on an online survey conducted Oct. 25 to Nov. 2 among 133 full-time financial advisors and a national sample of 300 adults between 35 and 65 years old, who were the primary or shared decision maker for personal finances and had investable assets of at least $100,000.
Advisors in the survey said more cash flow management, or budgeting, would benefit consumers, many of whom do not see this as important.
