A robust 90% of advisors surveyed said that retirement income planning is part of their practice and 69% say they frequently encounter clients needing assistance with retirement planning. Considering the graying of the baby boomers and the fact that, on average, 38% of clients plan to retire within the next 10 years, retirement income solutions are only going to grow in importance in the coming years.

The Spectrem Affluent Investor Index (SAII)® rose again for the second  time in two months and the Spectrem Millionaire Investor Index (SMII)® followed suit with a more dramatic rise of it’s own. Both indices inched up, though the economy is still a concern.

Though dire warnings of economic disaster still dominate the newsstands, the affluent are starting to feel out the new financial world and find ways to be involved again. After months of waiting it out, Millionaires and the Affluent are back in the market, moving dramatically back into Cash and Bonds, which both hit new  all-time highs this month. All investments, even Real Estate, showed a big jump this month.

Affluent household confidence levels dropped slightly in October indicating that investors are still nervous about the future. The Spectrem Affluent Investor Confidence Index (SAICI) dropped from -13 to -15. (Affluent investors are defined as those with $500,000 of investable assets). This rating is still in bearish territory based upon the overall Index scoring. Millionaires were similarly doubtful with the Spectrem Millionaire Investor Confidence Index (SMICI) dropping from -5 to -7. While Millionaire households are traditionally more positive than the Affluent, this rating is still in Neutral territory. The Indices have not been in bullish territory since May 2007. Millionaires were Mildly Bullish in October of 2007.

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