In a global survey of nearly 19,000 investors conducted across eight countries titled Global Investor Insights, Dimensional Fund Advisors found that only 14 per cent of survey participants felt ‘investment returns’ was the most important benefit brought by their relationship with their adviser.
Instead, ‘sense of security/peace of mind’ was rated as the most valued benefit, followed by ‘knowledge of my personal financial situation’.
“Investors may attribute peace of mind to many aspects of their adviser relationship – and we believe that sense of security is an outcome of an adviser setting the right expectations,” Dimensional co-chief executive and head of global financial services Dave Butler said.
According to Dimensional founder and executive chairman David Booth, peace of mind was “what success is all about”.
“Achieving returns in a way that enables people to relax just a little bit more is very important to us and also to investors,” he said.
Client service experience was the foremost important attribute of an adviser (31 per cent), with the second attribute being ‘experience with clients like me’ (26 per cent).
Trailing in last was ‘range of services’ at 6 per cent.
