Personal finance research, surveys and studies

(March 13, 2025)

Key takeaways:

• Nearly one-half of couples say financial transparency and open communication is key to success.

• 42% of couples struggle to balance personal spending with shared financial responsibilities.

• 9 out of 10 couples rarely or never experience major financial conflicts.

(March 3, 2025)

Key Takeaways:

• More than half (53%) of the people we surveyed said they don’t have an IRA.

• Men prefer investing in stocks more than women, but both prioritize cash or cash equivalents for stability and liquidity.

• Younger investors favor safer options like cash, while older groups lean on balanced portfolios of stocks and bonds.

• Higher-income and more educated respondents are more confident in taking risks with stocks and diversified strategies, while those with lower incomes or less education stick to safer, more liquid investments.

• While mixed portfolios are the top choice nationwide, the Midwest invests more cautiously, the Northeast and West stay balanced, and the South takes the most risks.

(February 24, 2025)

Key takeaways:

• 2/3 of Americans factor ethics into their investment decisions.

• 66% of Americans would divest from companies with poor ethics.

• 47.5% of Gen Z have boycotted brands over social or political issues, with 52.5% of millennials reporting similar behavior.

• 55% of Americans are willing to accept lower returns in the short term (1–2 years) to support ethical investments.

(February 24, 2025)

Key takeaways:

• The stock market concept is more than 400 years old

• The New York Stock Exchange is over 200 years old

• The original Dow Jones index had just 12 companies

• September is the worst month to invest

(February 24, 2025)

Key takeaways of this research:

• Comparing REIT investing vs stock investing

• Historical REIT returns

• The best-performing REITs of 2025

(February 22, 2025)

Key takeaways of this research:

• Historical average stock market return

• Nominal vs. real returns

• Biggest factors that influence returns

(February 17, 2025)

• Inflation is a top concern for 41% of Americans in 2024, up from previous years.

• 41% of U.S. adults have credit card debt, followed by 24% with a mortgage.

• While 45% of Americans feel confident managing investments, 55% remain uncertain about their financial decisions.

(February 20, 2025)

Key takeaways:

• More than half (53%) of the people we surveyed said they don’t have an IRA.

• Men prefer investing in stocks more than women, but both prioritize cash or cash equivalents for stability and liquidity.

• Younger investors favor safer options like cash, while older groups lean on balanced portfolios of stocks and bonds.

• Higher-income and more educated respondents are more confident in taking risks with stocks and diversified strategies, while those with lower incomes or less education stick to safer, more liquid investments.

• While mixed portfolios are the top choice nationwide, the Midwest invests more cautiously, the Northeast and West stay balanced, and the South takes the most risks.