TD Ameritrade Investor Poll: Younger Investors More Likely to Invest “More” in the Stock Market in 2012

Published on Monday, 06 February 2012 08:34 Written by TradersHuddle Staff

OMAHA, Neb.-( Business Wire )-

The European debt crisis, U.S. unemployment, the housing market, and political uncertainty - a laundry list of issues that may be causing investors to think more cautiously about their financial futures. But, not all investors are holding back. In fact, nearly half (46%) of investors age 18-34 expect to increase the amount of money they invest in the stock market in 2012, compared to 20 percent of those age 35 and older, according to a recent survey from TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation (“TD Ameritrade”) (NASDAQ: AMTD).

And despite much needed clarity, when asked for their 3-month outlook for investing conditions in the U.S. stock market, investors were surprisingly upbeat. Nearly half (46%) of all investors said they were “optimistic” (56% of those age 18-34, compared to 44% of those age 35 and older).

“Younger investors tend to be more optimistic because they have time on their side. As investors get closer to retirement, they tend to become more cautious, and what’s going on in the economy right now has exacerbated those feelings,” said Fred Tomczyk, president and chief executive officer, TD Ameritrade. “The good news is we’re seeing signs of optimism both in the results of this survey and among our clients who continue to log in and monitor their accounts at the same levels as a year ago.”

The survey also uncovered some additional signs of optimism among investors:

• 51 percent of investors believe the S&P 500 will be higher 3 months from now
• 54 percent of investors have seen or expect to see improvements in the U.S. economy within the next year

And, when it comes to issues of uncertainty in the markets, gender appears to play a role in today’s investor sentiment.

• When asked which factors are the most influential on market volatility, men were more likely than women (52% vs. 45%) to blame the European sovereign debt crisis. On the other hand, women were more likely than men to fault domestic unemployment (46% vs. 40%).
• Women were also nearly twice as likely as men (23% vs. 14%) to say that it will take 18 months or more for the U.S. economy to improve.
• And, in the 2012 U.S. presidential race, women were more likely than men (31% vs. 21%) to say that President Obama has more potential to jumpstart the U.S. economy. Men, on the other hand, were more likely to favor the Republican nominee in that category (42% vs. 25%). Approximately one third of respondents, regardless of gender, selected “neither” candidate.

Investors looking for guidance in these uncertain times can visit www.tdameritrade.com for access to a variety of online portfolio planning and analysis tools, call TD Ameritrade 24/7 at 800-669-3900, or speak with an investment consultant at any of the company's 100+ branch locations.

More detailed findings from the January 2012 TD Ameritrade Investor Sentiment Survey are available in the TD Ameritrade newsroom.

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Survey Methodology

1,050 investors shared their views on economic conditions and outlook for the market in general. These investors have at least $10,000 in investable assets, own securities in brokerage accounts, are 18 years or older, are involved in managing their portfolios and have traded securities at least once in the past 12 months.

The 1,050 survey respondents represent a random sample of investors selected from a consumer panel of individuals in the US who are have online access to the Internet.

The margin of error in this survey is ±3.0%. This means that in 19 cases out of 20, survey results based on 1,050 respondents will differ by no more than 3.0 percentage points in either direction from what would have been obtained by seeking the opinions of all eligible individuals in the US who are online.

Research Now conducted this survey on behalf of TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation. Research Now and TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation are separate, unaffiliated companies and are not responsible for each other’s products and services.

About Research Now

Research Now is the leading global online sampling and online data collection company. With over 6 million panelists in 38 countries worldwide, Research Now enables companies to listen to and interact with real consumers and business decision makers in order to make key business decisions.

About TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation

Millions of investors and independent registered investment advisors (RIAs) have turned to TD Ameritrade’s (NASDAQ: AMTD) technology, people and education to help make investing and trading easier to understand and do. Online or over the phone. In a branch or with an independent RIA. First-timer or sophisticated trader. Our clients want to take control, and we help them decide how – bringing Wall Street to Main Street for more than 36 years. An official sponsor of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team, TD Ameritrade has time and again been recognized as a leader in investment services. Please visit TD Ameritrade’s newsroom or www.amtd.com for more information.

Brokerage services provided by TD Ameritrade, Inc., member FINRA (www.FINRA.org)/ SIPC (www.SIPC.org) /NFA (www.nfa.futures.org).

TD Ameritrade Holding CorporationFor Media:Christina Goethe, 201-369-8541Communications & Public Affairschristina.goethe@tdameritrade.comorFor Investors:Jeff Goeser, 402-597-8464Investor Relations & This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.