Help clients keep their cool as election season heats up.

Emotions typically run hot around presidential campaigns. This can contribute to emotional or short-sighted decision-making by investors, which can lead clients to take on big risks that can potentially impact their long-term financial goals.

In advance of the presidential election in November, our 10th annual Advisory Authority survey powered by the Nationwide Retirement Institute^® found investors are worried about the economy and ready for professional guidance to help understand the election’s impact on their financial plans.

Many believe the election will sway the markets and their investments.

Investors are increasingly drawing connections between election outcomes and their investment plans, with many fearing the worst if their preferred presidential candidate doesn’t win. Over one-half of investors (55%) believe the upcoming U.S. federal election results (presidential and congressional) will have a bigger impact on their retirement plans and portfolios than market performance – up 10 percentage points from just a year ago.

Around
3 in 5

participants want an automatic way to convert their retirement plan savings into retirement income included in their plan.

Woman sitting on the couch looking at her phone.

Financial worries are top of mind as the election draws near.

Economic issues are usually hot topics during election season. This year, with the adverse impacts of high inflation and higher interest rates still fresh for many investors, it’s no surprise to see these economic concerns remain in the forefront.

"What are your biggest financial concerns leading up to the 2024 U.S. federal elections?"

54%

Inflation

34%

Recession

30%

Taxes

24%

Interest rates

"Which of the following do you believe will happen if the political party you least align with gains more power after the 2024 U.S. federal elections?"

50%

The cost of living will rise.

34%

Their taxes will increase within 12 months.

34%

The economy will plunge into a recession within 12 months.

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Man and woman sitting at a table talking.

Something to agree on—the value of financial guidance.

The political divide seems as wide as ever, but Americans can find common ground in the offices of their financial professionals. Across party lines, a majority of investors believe that working with a financial professional during an election year could help them feel more secure, regardless of who is elected in November.

63 percent of democrats agree 59 percent of republicans agree 58 percent of independents agree

Help clients tune out the political noise and focus on their financial plans.

As a financial professional, your guidance is valuable to clients to help them keep their emotions in check both before and after the upcoming election. And Nationwide is here to help you, with timely insights on the markets and economy you can share to help clients make informed financial decisions.

Look for our updated “Investing in a highly politicized climate” white paper with fresh data for the 2024 election season.

Find our latest client-ready insights on the markets and economy.

This material is not a recommendation to buy or sell a financial product or to adopt an investment strategy. Investors should discuss their specific situation with their financial professional.

The Harris Poll, on behalf of Nationwide, conducted an online survey in the U. S. among 610 advisors and financial professionals and 2,496 investors ages 18+ with investable assets (IA) of $10K+, August 26-September 13, 2024.

Respondents for this survey were selected from among those who have agreed to participate in our surveys. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data for advisors is accurate to within + 4.0 percentage points and for investors the sample data is accurate to within + 2.5 percentage points using a 95% confidence level. This credible interval will be wider among subsets of the surveyed populations of interest. The sample data for the subset of pre-retiree investors age 55-65 who are not retired is accurate to within + 6.7 percentage points using a 95% confidence level.

Nationwide Funds distributed by Nationwide Fund Distributors LLC, member FINRA, Columbus, Ohio. Nationwide Investment Services Corporation (NISC), member FINRA, Columbus, OH. Nationwide Retirement Institute is a division of NISC.