For the real scoop on investing in America, and to see how you stand in comparison to recent norms, peruse the data below. You'll not only learn that people who never went to college comprise the biggest group of investors in America, but you may also learn that you are richer, poorer, or more ordinary than you think. Additionally, you will discover that investors who rely on full-service brokers are a rather exceptional lot. Does your profile match theirs?

Who is investing?

Where are they putting their money?

How much do they have?

Where does their advice come from?

Who uses a full-service broker?

Who is investing?
Age
18-29	7%
30-49	50%
50-64	32%
65+	11%
Source: Annual Investor Survey conducted by Yakelovich Partners Inc. for the Securities Industry Association, October 2000. *
Education
No college	15%
Some college	19%
Undergraduate degree	39%
Postgraduate/Professional degree	24%
Source: Annual Investor Survey conducted by Yakelovich Partners Inc. for the Securities Industry Association, October 2000. *
Average Annual Family Income
$50,000-$74,999	45%
$75,000-$99,999	24%
$100,000-$199,999	19%
More than $200,000	10%
Source: Annual Investor Survey conducted by Yakelovich Partners Inc. for the Securities Industry Association, October 2000. *

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Where are they putting their money?
Equities
CD's, savings accounts, and money market funds	28%
Stock mutual funds	27%
Individual stocks	26%
Bond Mutual funds	11%
Individual bonds	8%
Source: Annual Investor Survey conducted by Yakelovich Partners Inc. for the Securities Industry Association, October 2000. *
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How much do they have?
The percentage of investors with the following amounts in financial holdings outside of checking and savings accounts.
$100,000-$249,999	59%
$250,000-$499,999	13%
$500,000-$999,999	13%
$1,000,000 or more	11%
Source: Annual Investor Survey conducted by Yakelovich Partners Inc. for the Securities Industry Association, October 2000. *
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Where does their advice come from?
The percentage of surveyed investors who say they seek financial advice from the following:
Stockbroker	27%
Financial planner	23%
Relatives/friends	6%
No one (rely on self only)	5%
Accountant	4%
Banker	2%
Lawyer	1%
Insurance agent	1%
Source: Annual Investor Survey conducted by Yakelovich Partners Inc. for the Securities Industry Association, October 2000. *
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Who uses a full-service broker?
The average full-service brokerage client is:
Age	48
Marital Status	72% married
Education	39% college graduate; 24% post-graduate
Gender	57% male; 43% female
Household Income	$78,000
Financial Assets	$198,000
Trades Made in Past Year	19.4
Years Investing	14
Satisfaction with Brokers	67% very satisfied; 28% somewhat satisfied
Source: Annual Investor Survey conducted by Yakelovich Partners Inc. for the Securities Industry Association, October 2000. *
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*The annual investor study is completed for investors with net household incomes of $50,000 or more and total financial assets (excluding home) of $100,000 or more.

So, now that you've made it to the end, what's the bottom line? Well, obviously you don't have to be "educated" or "rich" to invest – and there's no golden age to start (although earlier is always better, of course).

Although the above studies indicate that only 27% of the population seeks financial advice from a broker, the studies suggest that those who do are a distinct breed: experienced, active investors with a lot at stake. This suggests that seasoned investors know how challenging it can be to invest successfully – and thus, they're the ones who really see the value of professional help. Furthermore, 67% of the typical full-service brokerage clients indicated they were very satisfied with the service they received. To determine whether working with an investment professional might be right for you, give us a call.