experian financial blogger partners survey results
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1
EDELMAN INTELLIGENCE
Experian Financial BloggerSurvey Report
September 2016
2
WHO HOW MANY ACCURACY WHEN HOW
Adults, Nationwide n=1,000 Margin of Error
= +/- 3.1%
Data Collection Occurred
August 2-9, 2016
Online Survey (Average of 13
minutes)
RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: Garner mediagenic data around experiences, knowledge and perceptions related to
personal finance.
Research Methodology
Note that throughout this report, total percentages may add up to 99% or 101% due to rounding.
3
Key Findings At first glance, respondents feel optimistic about their finances, but stress
surrounding income expectations, debt reduction and retirement investments prevents strong confidence in their financial future Nearly half (46%) have less money in their savings than they had expected; almost
three-quarters of respondents say they are behind in their retirement savings
82% of respondents hold some type of debt, and although most agree debt prevents them from living life to the fullest, only half actually feel comfortable talking about debt
Lack of income and funds are given as the main reason for financial woes, not respondents’ fiscal behavior
Financial education is key to debt reduction and savings Those that are comfortable with stocks and bonds invest in them; but 70%
do not currently invest and 41% will not invest in the future due to lack of funds and knowledge
73% say they need more resources to help them pay off their debt
PERSONAL FINANCE
5
Although people feel better off than last year when it comes to financial security, only 17% feel “very secure” when it comes to their personal finances
Q2. Today, how secure do you feel about your personal finances? Q3. Generally, do you feel more or less financially secure than you did last year?
How secure do you feel about your personal
finances?
8% 27% 47% 17%
Not at all secure Not too secure Somewhat secureVery secure
Do you feel more or less financially secure than you
did last year?
43%
32%
26%More secure
No dif -ference
Less secure
64% feel secure
6
Moderate priority
And although the majority feel confident in their ability to achieve financial goals, that confidence is soft
Setting aside money to start a family
Saving for education
Having disposable income
Setting aside money for retirement
Building up my emergency savings
17%24%
20%24%
46%33%33%30%
40%24%
15%12%23%
35%18%
31%40%45%
38%68%
Financial Goals
Q5. Below is a list of different financial goals. How much of a priority are each of these for you, personally? (Showing % Moderate/Top Priority)Q6. How confident are you that you can achieve your financial goals on your current income? (Showing % Somewhat/Very Confident)
Confidence in Ability to Achieve
Financial Goals
42%
22%
Somewhat confidentVery confident
• Nearly half (42%) only feel “somewhat confident” in their ability to achieve financial goals
• Top financial priorities are paying for basic needs, building up emergency savings and paying off debt
64%
0 Top priority92%
78%75%73%
64%64%
59%43%
36%32%
7
5% 21% 44% 30%
Never Rarely Sometimes Frequently
How often do you feel stressed due to your finances?
Q4. How often, if ever, do you feel stressed due to your finances or financial situation?
Most adults report feeling stressed due to finances at least “sometimes”
74% feel stressed due to finances at least
“sometimes”
8Q7. Today, are you earning more or less than you thought you would be 5 years ago?Q8. About how often do you think about needing to increase your income?
About how often do you think
about needing to increase your
income? Daily 37%Weekly 18%Monthly 17%Quarterly 8%Annually 9%Less than annually 6%
Never 5%
55% think about
needing to
increase their
income weekly or more
Are you earning more or less than you thought you
would be 5 years ago?
30%
30%
41%More
About the same
Less
Nearly half of respondents (41%) are earning less than they thought they would be 5 years ago• Most think about needing to increase their income on a daily or weekly
basis
9
Not Enough Income
Unexpected Bills
Cost of Living
Overspending on Unnecessary Things
Debt Payments
Other
35%
21%
13%
13%
12%
6%
Do you have more or less money in savings today than
you expected you would 5 years ago?
30%
20%
46%
5%MoreAbout the sameLessUnsure
Q22. Would you say that you have more money or less money in savings today than you expected that you would 5 years ago?Q23. Looking at the following list, what would you say is the biggest obstacle to increasing your savings?
What is the biggest obstacle to increasing
your savings?
• Nearly half (46%) have less in savings than they thought they would 5 years ago
Low income is cited as the biggest obstacle to increasing savings
BUDGETING & SPENDING
11
58%
42%YesNo
Q12. Do you use a budget for your personal / household spendingQ13. For what reasons do you use a budget? (Asked if they use a budget; n=XX)
Do you use a budget for your personal /
household spending?
Nearly half (42%) do not use a budget; those that do, use one to control their spending
To help me stop worrying about my finances
To track my progress toward achieving my financial goals
To keep me on track to achieving my long-term financial goals
To better understand my spending habits
To motivate me to keep saving money
To help me control my spending
35%
38%
40%
45%
46%
69%
Why do you use a budget?
12
58%42%Yes
No
Q12. Do you use a budget for your personal / household spendingQ14. What is the primary reason that you do not prepare a budget? (Asked if they don’t use a budget; n=XX)
Do you use a budget for your personal /
household spending?
Those who do not use a budget simply believe it is unnecessary for them
Don't know how
Not enough time
Ineffective
Unnecessary
16%
16%
23%
38%
Why don’t you use a budget?
13
Sticking to a budget is the top skill respondents say they wish they knew how to do better
How to qualify for a loan
How to make a budget
How to invest in stocks/bonds
How to increase my savings rate
How to stick to a budget
5%
9%
25%
26%
28%
Gaps in Financial Knowledge
Q9. What is one thing you wish you knew how to do better financially? Q10. Which of the following statements comes closest to your opinion?
39%
61%
Which do you agree with?I have a hard time finding
financial education resources
Financial education resources are readily available to me
• 39% say they have a hard time finding financial education resources
14
About half of respondents report making an impulse purchase at least monthly; the top motivation is finding a great deal
Never
Less than annually
Annually
Quarterly
Monthly
Weekly
Daily
5%
17%
7%
20%
28%
18%
4%
How often do you make an impulse
purchase?
Q15. How often do you make an “impulse purchase” – meaning how often do you make an unplanned decision to buy a product or service just before purchasing it?Q16. When are you most likely to make an impulse purchase? (Asked if they make impulse purchases)
When are you most likely to make an
impulse purchase?
If I want to impress someone
If I’m unsure of my budget
If I’m having a bad day
If someone encourages me
If I’m in a good mood
If I recently got a paycheck
If I find a great deal
7%10%
15%
20%
27%
29%
70%
FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS
16
Most respondents check their account balances on a weekly basis
Q17. Which of the following types of financial accounts do you currently hold?Q18. How regularly do you check your account balance(s)? (Asked if they have any type of account)
How regularly do you check your account balance(s)?
Quarterly or less
Monthly
Weekly
Daily
4%
18%
44%
35%
None of the above
Informal savings club
Brokerage account
Retirement savings account
Credit card account
Savings account
Checking account
5%
5%
19%
45%
63%
67%
88%
Which of the following types of financial accounts do you
currently hold?
17
None of these
Company reputation
Mobile / paperless banking offerings
Access to ATMs
Interest rates
Banking fees
Customer service
7%
9%
9%
10%
15%
23%
24%
What has the most impact on
satisfaction?
Q19. How satisfied are you with your current bank or credit union? (Asked if they have a checking or savings account)Q20. Which one of the following would you say has the most impact on your satisfaction or dissatisfaction with your bank or credit union? (Asked if they have a checking or savings account)
57%38%
6%Very sat-isfiedSomewhat satisfied Dissatisfied
Financial Institution Satisfaction
Bank satisfaction is high — 57% feel “very satisfied” with their current bank or credit union• Satisfaction is driven by customer service and banking fees
Saving and Investing
19
On average, respondents spend only 13% of their income on savings and investments
Q11. Approximately what percentage of your income goes toward…?
Other necessities Housing Other spending Savings and Investments
35% 33%
18%13%
Approximately what percentage of your income goes towards . . . (Showing average)
20
The most common recent major purchases include cars and vacations
Q21. What is the last major purchase you saved for?
What is the last major purchase you saved for?
Car
Vacation
House
Wedding
Other
I have not saved for a major purchase
29%
23%
13%
4%
5%
26%
21Q26. Do you currently invest in stocks or bonds? Q27. How comfortable do you feel with your investments? (Asked if they invest)
53%
33%
Somewhat ComfortableVery Comfortable
Comfort with Investing
30%
29%
41%
Yes, I cur-rently invest in stocks or bondsNo, but I plan to invest in stocks and bonds in the futureNo, and I do not plan to in-vest in them in the future
Do you currently invest in stocks and bonds?
70% do not invest in stocks and bonds and 41% said they do not plan on investing in the future
86%
22
Those that do not currently invest their money say they don’t have enough money to invest or don’t know enough about the market/stocks.
Q28. Below is a list of factors that may prevent people from investing in stocks and bonds. Which of the following factors are stopping you from investing? (Asked if they don’t invest)
Factors Preventing Investing
Don’t have enough money to
invest
Don’t know enough about the
market/stocks
Stocks are too risky
Don’t trust stock brokers/the
market
Don’t want to pay high fees
51%
43%
34%
21% 21%
23
The majority of respondents (71% total) feel negatively about their retirement plans.
Q24. Next, thinking specifically about retirement savings…Where do you think you currently stand as far as retirement savings? (Asked if they have not yet retired)Q25. Approximately how much money do you have saved for retirement? [OPEN-END]
52% say they “don’t know” how much money they have
saved for retirement
Where do you currently stand as far as retirement savings?
Series1
34% 37% 21% 4% 4%
Too Far Behind to Catch Up Moderately behind Right on Track Ahead of ScheduleEnough Saved to Retire Now
71% report being behind on their retirement
savings
DEBT
25
Less than one-fifth of respondents do not hold any debt, and many of them (38%) expected to have less than they do now
I do not hold any debt
Student loan
Medical
Car loan
Mortgage
Credit card
18%
19%
27%
31%
32%
49%
Types of Debt Held
Q29. Today, do you have more or less DEBT than you thought you would be 5 years ago? Q30. Which of the following types of debt do you hold?
38%
34%
29%More debt than I thought 5 years ago
Less debt than I thought 5 years ago
Same debt that I thought 5 years ago
Do you have more or less debt than you thought you would 5
years ago?
26
40%
29%
31%Higher SameLower
The most common type of debt— credit card debt — is primarily caused by lack of cash flow and overspending
Q33. What do you think the primary reason is for your credit card debt? (Asked if they have credit card debt)Q34. On average, would you say that your credit card debt is higher or lower than it was last year? (Asked if they have credit card debt)
Primary Cause of CC Debt
Average CC DebtCompared to Last Year
Don’t know; I’ve never se-riously addressed it
Lack of savings
Other
I don’t see having debt as a problem
Inability to reduce monthly bills
Overspending
Lack of cash flow
5%
6%
7%
9%
10%
27%
36%
• 40% say they have higher credit card debt than they did last year
27
76%
16%8%
How many times in the past year have you paid credit card
late fees?
Q35. Approximately how many times in the past year have you had to pay credit card late fees? (Asked if they have a credit card)Q36. How would you rate your current credit score?
1-3 times
0 times
4 or more times
28% 27% 20% 14% 7%
Excellent Good Fair Poor Bad
How would you rate your current credit score?
Most claim they have not paid any credit card late fees in the past year and rate their credit score as “excellent” or “good”
5% are unsure
28
Respondents believe their bill payment history has had the biggest impact on their credit score
26%
14%12% 11% 10%
9%
4% 3% 3%
What has the biggest impact on your credit
score?
Q37. What factor has the biggest impact on your credit score?
29
Nearly three-quarters (70%) agree that debt prevents them from living their life to the fullest
Q32. How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements? (Asked if they hold debt; n=XX)
I need more resources to help me pay off my debt.
I will never fully pay off my debt.
21%
23%
12%
13%
28%
23%
15%
17%
34%
26%
36%
33%
17%
28%
37%
37%
Strongly Disagree Somewhat DisagreeSomewhat Agree Strongly Agree
I am comfortabletalking about my debt.
Debt prevents me fromliving life to the fullest.
How much do you agree or disagree with the following
statements?
• 73% say they need more resources to help them pay off their debt; however, only about half (51%) say they are comfortable talking about their debt
COLLEGE COSTS
31
53%47%
How do you currently feel about your student loans?
My student loans are out of control; I am anxious about how I will pay them off
My student loans are under control and I am
confident that I will pay them off on time
Q40. How do you currently feel about your student loans? (Asked if they have student loans)
Those with student loan debt are split when it comes to their confidence about paying it off • Nearly half (47%) say their student loans are out of control and they are
anxious about how they will pay them off
32
Most believe that college is worth it, but there are stipulations
When is college worth the cost?
Q38. When would you say college is worth the cost?
If you go to a very prestigious school
If you go to an in-state college
College is never worth the cost
If you choose a major associated with high paying jobs
If you get a scholarship that pays for all or most of tuition
If you major in a field with a lot of job opportunities
College is always worth the cost
5%
10%
11%
18%
28%
28%
34%
• While about one-third say that college is always worth the cost, 28% say that it is only worth the cost if you major in a field with many job opportunities or if you get a scholarship
33 Q39. If you could go back in time and go to college all over again, what is the one thing you would do differently? (Asked if they went to college)
OtherGet an internship (or get more internships)
Go to a different schoolBe more involved on campus and in extra-curricular activities
Find a way to graduate with less debtGet better grades and/or learn more in class
Build a better network of contactsI would do nothing differently
7%12%
15%17%
19%20%21%
32%
If you could go to college all over again, what would you do
differently?
About one-fifth (19%) of those who went to college would find a way to graduate with less debt if they could do it over again
34
Two-thirds of those with student loans regret taking them out; they agree that student loans negatively impact their ability to save for large purchases
16%
11%
18%
19%
29%
31%
37%
39%
Strongly Disagree Somewhat DisagreeSomewhat Agree Strongly Agree
I regret taking out such high student loans.
Q41. How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements? (Asked if they have student loans)
My student loans negatively impact my ability to save for large purchases.
How much do you agree or disagree with the following
statements?
MONEY MANAGEMENT
AMONG SPOUSES
36
Although most married couples share joint accounts, only 30% split handling financial matters evenly
Q42. Which of the following best describes how you and your spouse maintain your bank and credit accounts. My spouse and I maintain… (Asked if they are married or living with a partner)Q43. How do you and your spouse handle finances? (Asked if they are married or living with a partner)
How do you and your spouse maintain your bank
and credit accounts?
Unsure
1 or more separate &
one or more joint accounts
3%
24%
24%
49%
My spouse handles all our finances
My spouse handles most of our finances
I handle all our finances
I handle most of our finances
We split it evenly
10%
15%
18%
27%
30%
How do you and your spouse handle finances?
37
Only half of married couples discuss financial matters weekly or more . . .
Q44. Approximately how often do you and your spouse … (Asked if they are married or living with a partner)
Daily Weekly Monthly Quarterly or less
16%
36%32%
16%
Talk about financial matters
Approximately how often do you and
your spouse…
Only 52% of married couples talk about financial matters
weekly or more
38
6%
14%16%
12%
7%
24%21%
Approximately how often do you and
your spouse…Disagree on financial matters
Q44. Approximately how often do you and your spouse … (Asked if they are married or living with a partner)
. . . But disagreement on financial matters between spouses is fairly rare • Over half (52%) disagree on financial matters only annually or less
39
Married respondents agree that managing finances is difficult, but they are comfortable talking it out
I am completely comfortable talking to my spouse about money.
45%
28%
3%
25%
27%
10%
21%
29%
26%
9%
17%
61%
Strongly Disagree Somewhat Disagree Somewhat Agree
Q46. How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements? (Asked if they are married or living with a partner)
It feels like my spouse and I disagree about finances all the time.
Before marriage, I never realized how difficult managing finances together would be.
How much do you agree or disagree with the following
statements?
• Nearly half (46%) admit that before marriage, they never realized how difficult managing finances together would be; virtually all (86%) agree that they are comfortable talking to their spouse about money
DEMOGRAPHICS
41
Category Subcategory %
GenderFemale 51%
Male 49%
Age
18-24 14%25-34 18%35-44 17%45-54 18%55-64 14%65+ 19%
Region
Northeast 18%South 39%West 21%
Midwest 22%
Race/Ethnicity
White 64%African American 13%Hispanic/Latino 15%Asian American 5%
Other/Multi-racial 3%
Category Subcategory %
Employment Status
Employed full-time 53%Employed part-time 20%
Self-employed full-time 7%Self-employed part-time 6%
Retired 4%Other 10%
Level of Education
Less than High School Diploma 5%
High School Diploma 38%Technical or Vocational
School 3%Some College 18%
College Graduate (4-year degree) 10%
Graduate or Professional School 25%
Marital Status
Single, never married 32%
Married / Civil partnership 40%Living together with
someone but not married 9%
Separated 2%
Divorced 12%
Widowed 4%
DemographicsRespondent Demographics
Totals may not add up to 100 due to rounding
APPENDIX
43
Only about one-quarter of respondents (28%) grew up in a household where finances were discussed frequently
Q1. Thinking back to when you were growing up, how often were finances discussed in your household?
Series1
10% 28% 35% 28%
Never Rarely Sometimes Frequently
Growing up, how often were finances discussed in your household?
• 38% of respondents are from households where finances were “never” or “rarely” discussed
44
Medical
Student Loan
Credit Card
Car Loan
Mortgage
32%
26%
24%
18%
11%
51%
50%
58%
73%
35%
9%
15%
10%
4%
19%
7%
10%
8%
5%
34%
Less than 1 year 1-5 years 6-10 years More than 10 years
Years Paying Off Debt
Q31. How many years have you been actively attempting to pay off each of the following types of debt? [Asked for each type of debt they hold among those who have started paying it off]
How many years have you been actively attempting to pay off each
type of debt?
THANK YOU
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