New Study From Informa Research Services And Novantas Reveals Huge Gap

Informa Research Services, Inc., a subsidiary of Informa plc (LSE:INF), and Novantas LLC announce the release of a new report, the 2010 U.S. Consumer Wealth Study. This national study examines U.S. household asset allocation and preferences. The study shows which financial institutions are preferred and which types of investment and deposit products hold the majority of the wealth.

“The study reveals many interesting trends regarding the distribution of retirement dollars among the mass affluent, emerging affluent, and affluent segments,” said Wayne Cutler, managing director at Novantas. “The real ‘eye-openers’ were the findings that revealed how these consumers feel about investing their retirement savings at banks.”

In an environment where financial institutions are scrambling for deposits, the mass affluent sector seems to be severely ignored, according to the study findings. Results revealed that in a potential pool of more than $5.3 trillion in retirement savings held outside of structured retirement plans, banks only hold about $1.6 trillion and are at risk of losing even those deposits.

“The survey results showed that only 10% of the mass affluent consumers view their bank as a viable solution for retirement investing,” said Chad Watkins, manager of market intelligence at Informa Research Services. “Unless financial institutions change this consumer perception, they are at risk of losing these deposits to brokerage and insurance companies.”

The new study is based on a national survey of nearly 1,000 respondents conducted in April 2010 via an online panel of U.S. households. Forty-six questions were posed, with findings and analysis forming the backbone of the report. Participants were at least 25 years of age and report at least $100K in investable assets (excluding assets invested in structured retirement plans).

The 2010 U.S. Consumer Wealth Study was launched as a joint project between Informa Research Services, Inc., and Novantas LLC.

To order or for more information on the 2010 U.S. Consumer Wealth Study, contact Chad Watkins at 800-848-0218 Ext. 48407 or visit the Informa Research Services website at www.informars.com.

About Informa Research Services, Inc. ( www.informars.com )

Founded in 1983 and headquartered in Calabasas, California, Informa Research Services, Inc., provides the financial industry's most extensive array of market research and decision-support information.