Number of Americans Reporting No Personal or Retirement Savings Rises

NEW YORK, Feb. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Thirty-four percent of Americans have no retirement savings and 27% have no personal savings.  Just 18 months ago those numbers were moderately lower, at 30% and 22% respectively.

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These are some of the results of The Harris Poll of 2,151 adults surveyed online between November 8 and 15, 2010 by Harris Interactive.

Generationally, one-in-four (25%) Baby Boomers (aged 46-64) have no retirement savings, with 22% of Matures (aged 65 and over) stating the same.  Gen Xers (aged 34-45) are struggling with more immediate issues; 32% have no personal savings.

In terms of investments, 14% of Baby Boomers and Matures each state that their personal savings is mostly invested in stocks or mutual funds - a greater proportion than younger generations say the same.

"Current economic conditions seem to be driving somewhat less risky investment behavior by Gen Xers, which goes against the grain of traditional investment advice," stated Barbara Bertner, Vice President of Financial Services Research for Harris Interactive. "A combination of trust and education would likely bring these consumers back into alignment with traditional investment thinking."

Other results of this survey include:

• Most people with bank accounts have heard nothing (24%) or only a little (35%) about new rules about overdrafts requiring bank customers to sign an annual agreement to permit their bank to approve payments that exceed their balances. While two in five (41%) bank customers say they know all about these new rules, only one in every six (16%) have "opted in" for this service.
• A 31% plurality of all adults report that they keep their personal savings "mostly in bank savings and and/or CDs", 17% keep "a relatively equal mix of stocks/mutual funds and investments such as bonds and money market funds", 11% keep their personal savings "mostly in stocks and/or mutual funds", 8% keep theirs "mostly in bonds, money market funds and other stable investments", and just over a quarter of all adults (27%) say they have no personal savings or investments;
• The relatively small proportions of adults who keep an "equal mix" of their personal savings in equities (stocks or mutual funds) is somewhat higher among Baby Boomers and people over 65 (23% and 22% respectively) than it is among those aged 45 or younger (between 7% and 18%);
• When asked specifically about their retirement savings, rather more people report having these invested "mostly" (18%) or "an equal mix" (22%) in stocks and mutual funds. However, 34% of all adults have no retirement savings, including 25% of Baby Boomers and 22% of people aged 65 or older; and,
• Most people have not changed the portfolio mix in the last 6 months of either their personal savings and investments (70%) or their retirement savings and investments (74%).  Relatively small numbers have moved their investments into or out of stocks, bonds, bank savings, money market funds and CDs.

So What?

It is concerning if Americans are depleting both short and long term investments to make ends meet today—many may not have retirement savings when they need it.  Financial experts have traditionally advised younger investors to invest heavily in equities for the long term and older investors to move more of their savings into less volatile investments. It is interesting to see how few people under 45 (and indeed in all age groups) have adjusted to this advice given current economic conditions. It seems Gen Xers are keeping money out of the markets in favor of less risky investments, possibly a result of being skittish about market conditions.  As Bertner states above, companies who understand Gen Xers investment attitudes and present new products with that in mind will generate a greater share of wallet among this group.

Methodology

This Harris Poll was conducted online within the United States between November 8 to 15, 2010 among 2,151 adults (aged 18 and over). Figures for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, region and household income were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents' propensity to be online.

All sample surveys and polls, whether or not they use probability sampling, are subject to multiple sources of error which are most often not possible to quantify or estimate, including sampling error, coverage error, error associated with nonresponse, error associated with question wording and response options, and post-survey weighting and adjustments. Therefore, Harris Interactive avoids the words "margin of error" as they are misleading. All that can be calculated are different possible sampling errors with different probabilities for pure, unweighted, random samples with 100% response rates. These are only theoretical because no published polls come close to this ideal.

Respondents for this survey were selected from among those who have agreed to participate in Harris Interactive surveys. The data have been weighted to reflect the composition of the adult population. Because the sample is based on those who agreed to participate in the Harris Interactive panel, no estimates of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.

These statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.

The results of this Harris Poll may not be used in advertising, marketing or promotion without the prior written permission of Harris Interactive.

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Q805, 810, 815, 820, 825, 830, 835, 840

The Harris Poll® #13, February 2, 2011

By Humphrey Taylor, Chairman, The Harris Poll, Harris Interactive

About Harris Interactive

Harris Interactive is one of the world's leading custom market research firms, leveraging research, technology, and business acumen to transform relevant insight into actionable foresight. Known widely for the Harris Poll and for pioneering innovative research methodologies, Harris offers expertise in a wide range of industries including healthcare, technology, public affairs, energy, telecommunications, financial services, insurance, media, retail, restaurant, and consumer package goods. Serving clients in over 215 countries and territories through our North American, European, and Asian offices and a network of independent market research firms, Harris specializes in delivering research solutions that help us – and our clients – stay ahead of what's next. For more information, please visit www.harrisinteractive.com.

SOURCE Harris Interactive