Understand the latest trends in sources of advice and information to shape strategy and products with the report, Advice & Technology: Beyond Traditional Market Models, Receptivity to Professional Advice and Mobile Payments Connection. Consumers are increasing their use of all sources of advice, including use of Paid Investment Professionals, as online continues to grow, especially with younger consumers.

• Traditional models of investor preference of "Self-Directed" don't tell the full story. A detailed analysis that crosses preference by behavior reveals that consumers are relying less on “myself” and using multiple sources of advice. 
• Use of Paid Investment Professionals is increasing, with 1 in 2 now using this source. 
• Over 80% of young and affluent consumer groups are "hybrid," using both online and advisors. 
• Mobile is the device preferred for saving and investing information and advice by consumers ages 21 to 27.
  
• Comfort with mobile payments is changing mobile behavior for saving and investing as mobile payment companies are potentially positioned as disruptors.
  

Marketing, product and advice/digital design professionals will benefit from the actionable data and insights in this report to:

• Create advice experiences that address consumer preference for multiple sources of advice while respecting consumer beliefs around self-direction.  
• Consumers want to use paid investment professionals, so experiment with pricing models that provide access, especially for younger and lower-asset consumers who are willing to pay. 
• Define consumer groups by wants, and advice experiences by their characteristics, recognizing the limitations of “hybrid” as a differentiator. 
• Design experiences that reflect how different consumer groups use mobile and computers, including the link between mobile payment and banking and investing. 
  

The Hearts & Wallets Investor Quantitative™ Database (IQDB) is the comprehensive resource for understanding and analyzing behaviors and attitudes of retail savers and investors. With over 1,000 fields and derived variables, the breadth and depth of topics covered is designed with decades of hands-on experience in the marketing, product, service and research functions it serves. The database covers consumers of all age and wealth segments, with over 5,000 annual responses to an online survey fielded mid-year since 2010. The large sample size of over 45,000 U.S. households permits sizing and profiling of virtually any demographic, behavioral or attitudinal definition for consumer groups. Its national weighting methodology allows for comparisons across years and customer/shareholder bases of leading firms.