Risk Tolerance Tracker gauge showing low tolerance
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F&G’s 2020 Risk Tolerance Tracker

2020 was an unexpected year of events including the pandemic, social unrest and market volatility. These events created lasting impacts on the financial industry, allowing both financial professionals and investors to learn from the events.

We wanted to learn more about the impact of these events, so we conducted a survey. Our inaugural Risk Tolerance Tracker surveyed approximately 1,500 American investors1 exploring how the events of 2020 made them more or less risky. The following results and conclusions were found.

1 To qualify for the survey, respondents had to be at least 30 years of age, have sole or shared financial decision-making responsibility for their household, and own financial products valued at $10,000 or more.

41% of women pursued only cautious/highly conservative investment strategies.

Women reported a more risk-averse approach to investing in comparison to men.

41%
22%

41% of women have pursued only cautious/highly conservative investment strategies compared to 22% of men

27%
37%

37% of men have shifted their asset allocations to be more aggressive during this time compared with only 27% of women

60% of respondents claimed they were worried about retirement income, especially Gen X respondents.

60%

60% worried about retirement income stemming from the past six months of the pandemic, social unrest and market volatility

Gen X person
57%

This is especially pronounced for Gen X with 67% worried about retirement income

American investors also feel like their financial safety net has been taken away

61% of Millennials : age 30-39
56% of Gen X : age 40-55
44% of Baby Boomers : age 56-74

Ways to Take Control and Shift Risk

From the adverse events of the year, investors can learn how to be better prepared for future financial safety.

weigh the pros and cons

Each individual’s appetite for risk is different-weighing the pros and cons of any strategy is important



build a holistic plan

Understand the importance of using a financial professional who can help you build a holistic plan that includes income guarantees like annuities



annuities = income You can’t outlive

Unlike any other financial vehicles, annuities can provide income that you cannot outlive, yet only 15% of survey respondents own them

As we look back on each year, it’s always good to learn from our experiences and reflect on how we can adapt our ways. The year 2020 made financial investors less likely to take risks in general, but they can also learn from these opportunities and be better prepared for any future recurrence.

To learn more about the survey or how you can adjust your own financial risk, visit our full Risk Tolerance Tracker.

Survey Methodology
This CARAVAN survey was conducted by ENGINE INSIGHTS among a sample of 1,463 adults 30 years of age and older. In order to qualify, respondents had to have sole or shared financial decision-making responsibility for their household and own financial products valued at $10,000 or more. The online omnibus study is conducted three times a week among a demographically representative U.S. sample of 1,000 adults 18 years of age and older. This survey was live on September 16-23, 2020. Completed interviews are weighted by five variables: age, sex, geographic region, race and education to ensure reliable and accurate representation of the total U.S. population, 18 years of age and older.