High-Net-Worth Investors Maintain Bullish Outlook on Economy, Portfolios

Amidst continued strong performance by the U.S. stock market, 71% of high-net-worth investors surveyed by Morgan Stanley Wealth Management believe the U.S. economy will be the same or better 12 months from now, and 87% have a similar outlook for their local economy.

Investors are even more bullish on the prospects for their own investment portfolios. Fully 90% foresee their investments performing the same or better a year from now.

“While investors clearly are feeling the benefits of two consecutive years of strong performance in U.S. equities, the debate continues over the length and durability of the current bull market, and the impact and timing of higher interest rates. It’s no surprise, then, that two-thirds of high-net-worth investors say they rely on a financial professional for advice and guidance,” said Gregory J. Fleming, President of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management and Morgan Stanley Investment Management.

Investor bullishness spans eight top markets:

• In San Francisco and Chicago, 79% of high-net-worth investors see favorable prospects for the national economy, followed by 77% in New York City Tri-State area, 73% in Boston, 72% in Los Angeles, 71% in Denver, and 67% in Atlanta and Houston.
• Houston investors are most bullish on their local economy (96%), followed by San Francisco (91%), Denver and Atlanta (90%), Boston (88%), Los Angeles and Chicago (85%), and New York City Tri-State area (78%).
• On the outlook for their household investment portfolios, 95% of Los Angeles investors are bullish, followed by 93% in Houston, Chicago and Atlanta, 92% in Denver and San Francisco, 90% in Boston and 89% in New York City Tri-State area.

The survey includes responses from over 1,000 investors across the U.S. with at least $100,000 in investible assets, with oversamples of 300 in the eight targeted markets. A third of these households have assets of $1 million or more. The sample is representative of 94% of total U.S. household investible assets.

The Morgan Stanley Investor Pulse Poll was conducted via telephone interviews among 1,000 investors nationwide with $100,000 or more in investible assets and between the ages of 25 and 75. The survey was conducted May through July 2014. The overall survey sample has a margin of error of +/- 3.0 percentage points, and is higher for subgroups.

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, a global leader, provides access to a wide range of products and services to individuals, businesses and institutions, including brokerage and investment advisory services, financial and wealth planning, banking and lending, cash management, annuities and insurance, retirement and trust services.

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