It seems some of these terms and technology applications are not as foreign to the affluent population as it might seem. Indeed, they are more tech-savvy than one might think.

Seventy-two percent of the affluent ($100K - $1MM of net worth, not including their primary residence) are 55 or older, and conventional wisdom says technology is a young person’s game. But 95% of the affluent use a home computer, and a robust 33% have a Blackberry or other PDA.

Technology is being utilized more and more by all age groups and wealth levels. It is becoming a bigger part of our culture daily. It is also affecting the way financial services deliver information to their clients. Thirty percent of iPhone users are using their devices to conduct financial research and 20% of Blackberry users are doing the same with their PDAs. This is something that companies need to keep in mind when designing communications: will it look as good on that little Blackberry screen or an even smaller cell phone screen? Podcasts (19%) which are, perhaps being used in conjunction with an iPod, iPhone or MP3 player (8%) are also being used to gather financial data.

Again, designing these forms of communication with these newer delivery systems in mind is crucial. Many HNW are either business owners or Sr. Corporate Executives who have had to embrace technology to keep up with their own industry changes.

Movies and TV shows that feature plots that hinge on some kind of technology usage or disaster are increasing as the idea of technology seeps into the national consciousness. It will always be a challenge for financial services, who deal with both the an elderly or aging population and the tech-savvy early adopters of the new generation to find the best way to communicate with their entire customer base.

It is the definition of a moving target and though information delivery vehicles like emails, podcasts, webcasts, and interactive websites may now feel very comfortable to financial services companies, the truth is that they are very close to be outdated already. Thought part of the HNW population, due to their age, will be behind other investors in technology adoption, the numbers show they are catching up and embracing the technology that meets their needs.

The shift from technology wary to technology dependent has already begun. Do not be left behind.

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