Understanding and Reacting to Shocking Investment Statistics

Hearing about how poorly we’re doing in personal finance can be disheartening. It’s easy to become indifferent and assume we can’t improve our financial situation. However, change, while potentially painful, is not impossible. A small adjustment can lead to another, and soon, you’ll find yourself moving in the right direction. All you need is to start. Use these statistics as a springboard for lasting change.

1. 39% of Americans under 30 “invest” in cash
   Holding a portion of your investment in cash is part of a healthy portfolio for seizing opportunities. However, over-investing in cash assets can be problematic. A recent Bankrate report showed that 39% of people under 30 invest their long-term funds in cash, meaning these funds aren’t in the stock market, missing out on potential gains.
2. 51% of Americans delay making significant financial decisions
   A 2015 AICPA report revealed that 51% of Americans are postponing decisions from higher education to home purchases and retirement. Lack of savings was identified as a reason for this hesitation.
3. 21% of Americans over 75 carry mortgage debt
   While mortgage debt is considered “good” debt, is it really beneficial as you approach retirement? A 2015 USA Today article highlighted that 21% of people over 75 have mortgage debt.
4. 0.75% in fees means a 30% reduction in savings over 20 years
   Many investors pay too much in fees, which can erode your returns. The SEC’s data indicates that a 0.75% difference in fees on a $100,000portfoliomeans$30,000 less over 20 years.
5. 61% of adult parents prefer to talk with their advisor rather than their adult children
   Mixing family and money can be tricky. A 2014 Fidelity report showed that 61% of adult parents (over 55) prefer to discuss matters with their advisor over their adult children (over 30).
6. Starting to save at 45 means you need to save three times as much as starting at 25
   A Boston College Center for Retirement Research report claims if you wait until 45 (instead of 25) to start saving for retirement, you need to save three times as much money.
7. The cost of commission-free ETFs might be higher than you think
   Commission-free ETFs sound great, but does free mean cheaper? A Wealthfront report claimed that Charles Schwab made over $200 million from such ETFs in just Q2 of 2015.
8. 90% of actively managed funds perform worse than passive funds
   According to CNBC, over five and ten-year periods, 87% and 82% of actively managed funds performed worse than passive funds, respectively.
9. We lag 6%+ behind the S&P 500
   A BlackRock report stated that over a 20-year period up to 2015, average investors underperformed the S&P 500 by 6%, which is slightly below the inflation rate.
10. Near retirement, our average retirement account balance would generate less than $400permonth\ast \ast A2015BostonCollegeCenterforRetirementResearchreportshowedtheaverageretirementaccountbalanceforthosenearingretirementwas$111,000, translating to nearly $400 per month, which is insufficient.
11. Since 1980, 40% of stocks have dropped 70% or more
    A J.P. Morgan report indicated that since 1980, 40% of stocks have decreased in value by 70% or more.
12. Dividends play a bigger role than you might think
    A Motley Fool report highlighted the significant role dividends play in investing. From 1927 to 2012, reinvested dividends accounted for 42% of the returns on large-cap stocks, 36% on mid-cap stocks, and 31% on small-cap stocks.

Conclusion
While these investment statistics can be concerning, they don’t have to lead to despair. In nearly all cases, some simple changes can turn things around, setting you on the path to financial well-being.