Affluent investors of all age groups make little use of robo-advisors, according to a survey by D.A. Davidson.
The report also found that even as millennials continue to embrace technology, they prefer to work with a traditional financial advisor. More than half (52%) still entrust the bulk of their investments to a traditional financial advisor, while less than 8% use a robo-advisor. The report noted that only 3% of Gen X and 1% of boomers use a robo-advisor.
Also, 59% of respondents entrust the bulk of their investments to a traditional financial advisor, and less than 5% use a robo-advisor.
The survey included 1,001 adults with at least $250,000 in investable assets, excluding workplace retirement accounts, such as a 401(k), or the value of a primary residence,
In other findings, a majority of American adults, including 95% of millennials, said they started saving at age 35 or younger. Still, more than one-third of millennials said they expect to carry debt into retirement,
Sixty-one percent of millennials also believe they will support an adult child financially and 66% believe they will be supporting an aging parent. Moreover, 21% of millennials said they are already saving for their children’s college education.
The survey also found that while 75% of respondents started saving at age 35 or younger, 46% started saving between the ages of 22 and 35.
The report said 72% of respondents anticipate not supporting an adult child financially and 76% do not or do not plan to support an aging parent financially.
Additionally, when it comes to having a formal, written long-term financial plan, 47% of respondents said they do not have one. That includes 55% of boomers and 74% of millennials.
Seventy-eight percent of respondents with a formal plan indicated that they review it on an annual basis and 18% review their plan every five years. Boomers are most likely to review their financial plan on an annual basis (83%), compared to 71% of mllennials.