Investors are feeling increased pressure on their financial and retirement plans in today's turbulent economic environment, according to Nationwide's eighth annual Advisor Authority survey, powered by the Nationwide Retirement Institute. Most investors who are not retired say they are terrified about their long-term and post-retirement financial futures (51%), with nearly half (43%) checking their retirement account balances more than three times a week in today's volatile market. This habit is more common among women than men (53% vs. 34%), even though men are slightly more likely to say they are terrified about their long-term financial futures than women (55% vs. 49%, respectively).

"As the holiday season approaches, it may be best to take a break from obsessively checking retirement balances," said Eric Henderson, President of Nationwide Annuity. "This can create self-induced anxiety which can lead to short-sighted, emotional decisions. It's a habit that is unlikely to serve a constructive purpose at a time when we'd all like to be focused on recharging our batteries and being with the people we care about. If you want to take proactive steps, have a conversation with your advisor or financial professional and establish a long-term plan – or revisit the plan you already have in place to ensure it remains aligned with your goals in the current environment." 

The angst generated by today's economic uncertainty is manifesting differently among men and women investors who are not retired. Although men (45%) are marginally more likely to say that they are nervous about their post-retirement financial future than women (38%), women are twice as likely to say their retirement expectations will change significantly if the U.S. economy enters a significant downturn (37% vs. 19%).

Women are a tad more likely to say that they are taking steps to adjust their retirement portfolio in light of recent market volatility (35% vs. 26% men). This proactive preparation may help explain why 41% of women agree that they feel confident in their financial plan despite market volatility, compared to just 11% of men.

Investors grappling with today's macroeconomic stressors are facing more uncertainty about when they will be able to retire. The number of men and women with near-term retirement plans is extremely low; just 2% of men and 1% of women plan to retire within the next five years. 

The threat of a recession and high inflation are driving investors to change their current retirement plans. Inflation has led both women (38%) and men (26%) to rethink when they can retire. Women (44%) are more likely than men (28%) to agree that signs of inflation and recession have made them rethink where they can retire.

"While we expect a recession in 2023 to be more of a reset for the economy that will bring inflation back to normal, investors risk missing the eventual rebound if they sit on the sidelines in the year ahead," said Mark Hackett, Chief of Investment Research. "Although we're not expecting anything like we saw in 2008 or even 2020, now is the time for investors to be talking with their financial professionals about implications for their portfolio so they are prepared."

Investors have varying degrees of confidence in their retirement plans. Again, men not yet in retirement are a bit more likely to say they are very nervous about spending down their nest egg in the current market environment than their female counterparts (43% vs. 38%, respectively). And although less than a quarter (24%) of all investors preparing for retirement say they currently have enough guaranteed income in their retirement portfolio to weather a recession, non-retired women are much more likely to say they have enough income in their retirement portfolio to survive a recession (38% vs. 13% of men).

Advisors and financial professionals are feeling their clients' anxiety as well. One third of advisors (34%) say their pre- and recently retired clients are canceling or delaying retirement. Only 17% of advisors say that most of this group of clients has contingency plans for a major market downturn. Despite their pre- and recent-retiree clients apparent lack of preparation, only 23% of advisors describe this cohort as "very anxious" about the current market environment.

"According to our data, some advisors may be underestimating the level of anxiety their clients are living through," Henderson said. "Advisors and financial professionals should seize the opportunity to engage with their clients to reinforce the importance of sticking to their long-term plan. Another way to address client anxiety about forces beyond their control is to help them understand the value of protection solutions, like annuities, that can guarantee income in retirement and guard against market volatility," Henderson said.

For additional insights on this survey data, visit https://nationwidefinancial.com/media/pdf/NFM-22550AO.pdf.

Nationwide's eighth annual Advisor Authority study powered by the Nationwide Retirement Institute® explores critical issues confronting advisors, financial professionals and individual investors—and the innovative techniques that they need to succeed in today's complex market.