New research shows that financial advisors are surprisingly optimistic

While the stock market continues to rise and indexes continue to set records, this year hasn’t exactly been a smooth ride with the roller coaster of tariff and trade wars, interest rate uncertainty, geopolitical tensions and more.

Despite all the noise, investors remain tense and alert. And yet, when you ask financial advisors how things are going, many say the same thing: they’re optimistic.

A new one questionnaire from US News-AdvisorFinder shows that financial advisors are entering next year with a positive outlook – not just for the markets, but for the overall financial well-being of their clients.

The Advisor Outlook Index surveyed advisors across the country on topics ranging from retirement readiness to taxes and technology adoption. Despite ongoing concerns about inflation, interest rates and market volatility, responses show a stable, and in many cases, confident profession.

This is what stood out:

• Retirement readiness: 72% of advisors believe their clients will be better prepared to achieve their retirement goals in the coming year. That is a striking number, given the background of concerns about social security and inflation. About 15% said customers would be “much better” prepared, and 57% said “somewhat better.”
• TaxesHalf of advisors expect the tax burden on clients to ease in the coming year – likely in response to provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which includes expanded deductions and exemptions for certain groups. Only 7% predicted a heavier tax burden, while 50% predicted a lighter tax burden. The rest (44%) said no meaningful change.
• Artificial intelligence: 80% of advisors say they are now using AI in their business. Most use it for administrative tasks – meeting minutes, proposal generation, data entry – while others apply it to research, content and client communications.
• AUM growth: 59% of advisors expect their assets under management to grow by more than 10% over the next twelve months, while 39% expect growth between 1% and 10%. Only 2% believe assets under management will be flat. Older advisors (45-64 years) were more optimistic than their younger peers.

The takeaway

It’s not every day that optimism is so widely shared, especially in a profession that tends to reward caution. What this research suggests is that, despite the noise, advisors still believe in the basic principles: clear planning, consistent strategy and staying engaged with clients.

It also points to a gap between public sentiment and professional perspective. While many Americans worry about retirement and the economy, advisors are seeing real progress – not just in portfolios, but in client behavior. That could reflect stronger planning habits, better tools, or simply more awareness about what it takes to retire safely.

And it’s worth noting that the profession itself is rapidly evolving. As AI tools become part of daily workflows and tax policies change once again, staying on top of information can be just as important as staying stable.

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