Global Investor Insights

In 2017, Dimensional conducted its second annual investor feedback survey on behalf of advisors who work with our firm. The purpose of the initiative is to help advisors gather insight into their clients’ views on personal finances and the advisory relationship. The survey is one of the largest of its kind in the industry, offering a global perspective on the client experience.

GLOBAL SURVEY STATISTICS

18,967

Survey Respondents

436

Participating Advisory Firms

8

Countries Represented

4

Regions (US, Canada, Europe, Australia/New Zealand)

Value of Advice

Investors are focused on more than investment performance. Survey respondents place the most value on the sense of security they receive from working with their financial advisor.

How do you primarily measure the value received from your advisor?

Top four responses

Dave Butler
DAVE BUTLER
Co-Chief Executive Officer and Head of Global Financial Advisor Services
“Investors may attribute peace of mind to many aspects of their advisor relationship—and we believe that sense of security is an outcome of an advisor setting the right expectations.”

Advisor Attributes

More than half of respondents say client service experience and their advisor’s experience with similar clients are key. And almost one-third say returns are most important.

Choose the attribute you consider most important in your advisor relationship:

Top four responses

David Booth
David Booth
Founder and Executive Chairman
“In our view, peace of mind is what success is all about. Achieving returns in a way that enables people to relax just a little bit more is very important.”

Retirement Income

While investors surveyed think the size of their nest egg is important in retirement preparation, this takes a back seat to knowing how much they can afford to spend during retirement.

The most valuable financial information to help me plan is:

The most valuable financial information to help me plan for retirement:

Top three responses

The most valuable financial information to help me plan during retirement:

Top three responses

Stephen Clark
Stephen Clark
Head of Global Institutional Services and President, Dimensional International
“We believe that future income needs is one of the most important components of effective retirement planning. The answer should influence how you invest.”

Retirement Lifestyle

Among the worries arising in personal finance, survey respondents are most concerned about circumstances that could affect their standard of living in retirement.

My greatest fear about my personal finances is:

Top four responses

Dave Butler
DAVE BUTLER
Co-Chief Executive Officer and Head of Global Financial Advisor Services
“Naturally, many investors have fears about what is likely their most important financial goal—saving for retirement. By helping clients understand what they can and cannot control, advisors can create a different experience to help ease their concerns.”

“Dimensional” refers to the Dimensional separate but affiliated entities generally, rather than to one particular entity. These entities are Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd., DFA Australia Limited, Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC, Dimensional Fund Advisors Pte. Ltd., and Dimensional Japan Ltd. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP is an investment advisor registered with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

During February and March of 2017, 18,967 investors who are clients of financial advisors who work with Dimensional completed the survey in the US, Canada, Europe, and Australia and New Zealand. The survey is open to all advisory firms that work with Dimensional. It is administered through a confidential online questionnaire, and investor responses are anonymous. Dimensional collects and organizes the data, and reports aggregate results to participating advisory firms.