Investor Attitudes
Investor Attitudes: Spectrem Indices, a measure of Affluent and Millionaire attitudes and confidence
Investor confidence regarding investments reached its lowest point in recent years. Millionaires, who are traditionally more optimistic, have also developed a negative outlook.
Catherine S. McBreen
Managing Director
Catherine S. McBreen is Managing Director of Spectrem Group, a research and consulting firm that specializes in the affluent and retirement markets. Spectrem is publisher of the monthly Spectrem Affluent Investor Index™ (SAII) and Spectrem Millionaire Investor Index™ (SMII) as well as the newsletters "High Net Worth Advisor Insights," "Affluent Market Insights" and "Retirement Market Insights."
McBreen is also co-author with Spectrem President George H. Walper, Jr. of the upcoming book "Get Rich, Stay Rich, Pass It On: The Wealth-Accumulation Secrets of America's Richest Families" (Portfolio, January 2008).
During her tenure at Spectrem, McBreen has helped clients enter new markets, assisted them in forming strategic alliances and partnerships, implemented Internet strategies and designed various distribution strategies. An attorney by training, McBreen has used her industry and legal knowledge to analyze mutual fund complexes, design distribution practices and develop products and strategies for the high net worth and personal trust markets. Prior to joining Spectrem, McBreen was a senior attorney and Vice President and Product Manager for Harris Trust and Savings Bank.
McBreen has a B.S. in speech communications from Northwestern University and a J.D. from DePaul University College of Law. She is a member of the American Bar Association, the Illinois Bar Association and the Chicago Bar Association.
Well-known for her expertise in the affluent and retirement arenas, McBreen is a frequent speaker at client events as well as industry conferences including the Private Asset Management / Institutional Investor Wealth Management Forum, Financial Advisor Magazine's Annual Financial Advisor Symposium and the International Business Forum / Pension & Investments 401(k) Conference. She has been quoted widely by the financial media, including The Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal, Research, Private Asset Management, On Wall Street, Reuters, Bloomberg News, the Dow Jones Newswires and Worth, and has appeared as a guest on CNBC Closing Bell, First Business Morning News, KGO Radio San Francisco and CNNfn.
Gerald M. O'Connor
Director
As the head of Spectrem's research practice, Gerry brings 35 years of management experience in developing research tools that support practical business decision making for firms operating in both individual and institutional financial services markets.
For the past eleven years, Gerry has developed and marketed a wide variety of both custom and syndicated research products for Spectrem and Access Research (acquired in 1997). Gerry's prior experience includes 15 years at CIGNA as Director of Marketing and Strategic Planning in the individual financial services division, ownership of a retail business and service as an officer in the U.S. Army.
O'Connor's research experience includes the design and implementation of studies using a wide variety of qualitative and quantitative methodologies. He has conducted research for most of the leading firms offering retirement plans, investment products and wealth management services.
Gerry O'Connor has a BS from Lowell Technological Institute and an MBA from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Drivers of Client Loyalty
Affluent investors remain loyal to their advisors when they are satisfied with their service. However, whether an individual follows their advisor to a new employer may be more telling of loyalty than satisfaction levels. As financial firms and advisors work to develop client loyalty, the behaviors of wealthy individuals are more telling than reported satisfaction levels.
