The Financial Services Institute (FSI) is bullish on Mitt Romney's chances of winning both the Republican nomination and the 2012 presidential election, based upon a poll of FSI members that focuses on national politics, the economy and other business issues that was released today.
According to the survey, former Massachusetts Gov. Romney is the runaway favorite to win the Republican nomination and, ultimately, the presidency with the 2,938 financial advisors who completed the survey.
FSI members also believe that the Senate will shift to Republican control; that the economy will stay flat while taxes go up; and that the Department of Labor (DOL) should not redefine the term "fiduciary."
Conducted in-house, the survey link was sent to FSI's estimated 35,000 members, who completed the questionnaire through a secure database. The survey was conducted between Jan. 30 and Feb. 6.
FSI President and CEO Dale Brown said the FSI survey also indicates that its members hold a firm position on the Department of Labor's role in redefining the industry term "fiduciary.''
"It is clear that advisors do not believe the DOL should be redefining the term fiduciary, which would price millions of Americans out of advice on their IRAs,'' Brown said. "The DOL would do well to listen to these advisors and keep their expert opinions in mind as they move forward in their process.''
The survey yielded the following results:
Who do you believe will be the GOP presidential nominee?
?Mitt Romney 2,613 90%
?Ron Paul 22 1%
?Newt Gingrich 248 9%
?Rick Santorum 32 1%
If the election were held today, would you vote for President Obama or Mitt Romney?
?President Obama 536 19%
?Mitt Romney 2,356 81%
If the election were held today, would you vote for President Obama or Ron Paul?
?President Obama 804 28%
?Ron Paul 2,041 72%
If the election were held today, would you vote for President Obama or Newt Gingrich?
?President Obama 753 26%
?Newt Gingrich 2,102 74%
If the election were held today, would you vote for President Obama or Rick Santorum?
?President Obama 718 25%
?Rick Santorum 2,152 75%
Will the U.S. Senate stay in Democrat control or shift to Republican control?
?Democrat 901 31%
?Republican 1,996 69%
Do you believe capital gains taxes are heading up or down?
?Up 2,605 91%
?Down 273 9%
Do you believe 2012 will be a strong, neutral or weak year for equities performance?
?Strong 1,047 36%
?Neutral 1,621 56%
?Weak 252 9%
Do you believe the Department of Labor should redefine the definition of fiduciary for financial advisors giving advice on IRAs?
?Yes 798 28%
?No 2,078 72%
Will the US economy recover in 2012, stay flat or worsen?
?Recover 1,126 38%
?Stay flat 1,618 55%
?Worsen 181 6%
-Jim McConville