Forsa Study on Investment Behavior: 5 Sobering Observations
Investment strategy, return expectations, level of information: On behalf of Targobank, the opinion research institute Forsa has interviewed more than 1,000 consultants from 40 years of age regarding their investment behavior in the low-interest-rate environment. The result shows an unembellished mood of German investors. We have summarized the 5 most important findings from this study.
Finding 1: 77% of investors are at a loss
BREXIT, Trump, Italy crisis and further low-interest policy of the ECB – German investors are currently as unsettled and puzzled as never before. 77% currently do not know where and how they can still invest their money wisely. At the same time, more than a third are dissatisfied with their investments: 36% of the investors surveyed say that their current investment strategy is little suited to the current market environment.
Finding 2: Only a Few Invest Profit-Oriented
The greatest risk is known to run no risk at all. It is therefore frightening which investment strategy the majority of German investors are currently pursuing: only 1% invests risk-consciously, another 8% invest at least profit-oriented. 25% drive a security-oriented strategy and do not want to take any risk. Another 40% invest very conservatively with little risk.
As a result, most investors are already satisfied with gross dividends of 2% to 5%. Bank fees and taxes will then have to be deducted, which in the end will not leave much profit.
Finding 3: Bank charges prevent depot optimization
The high fees for restructuring the portfolio also deter investors from measures. 58% stated that asset-based fees prevent them from buying or exchanging funds frequently. As a result, the majority of German investors’ deposits remain unaffected and are not optimized.
Finding 4: 68% of Investors Distrust Their Bank
Most investors are convinced that their bank offers them only investment products in which they themselves profit the most. This demonstrates a striking mistrust between investors and their banks. Trust would thereby be the basis for successful investment advice.
Finding 5: Bank Advisors are the №1 Source of Information
One in three investors feels hardly well informed (28%) or not informed at all (2%) in matters relating to the financial investment. By far the most important source of information is the bank advisor, despite the great distrust of banks which 72% of the respondents stated. This is followed by friends, acquaintances and family (43%), followed by online offers (37%) followed by TV advisors (31%) and journals (25%).
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