Charles Schwab 2024 401(k) Participant Study
The 2024 “ETFs and Beyond” study by Charles Schwab, conducted with Logica Research, highlights growing investor confidence in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) despite market uncertainty. The study has been covered in Yahoo! Finance, ThinkAdvisor, CryptoPotato, Techopedia, and more. The findings coincide with Schwab’s 15-year milestone in offering ETFs, underscoring the company’s commitment to providing cost-efficient and essential investment solutions.
The article in Yahoo! Finance, “ETF Investors Keep Calm and Carry On Amid Market and Political Uncertainty,” shares how study reveals that ETF investors are notably more optimistic and confident about their financial goals than non-ETF investors—with many expecting to expand their ETF holdings. The piece also highlights how Millennials show a strong interest in personalized investments and alternative assets like crypto, while older generations prioritize cost and stability. The findings reflect a growing trend of using ETFs to navigate market uncertainty and diversify portfolios across asset classes.
ThinkAdvisor “ETF Investors Are More Confident in Their Portfolios” talks about how the Schwab study insights show that 97% of ETF investors are feeling assured about meeting their financial goals, and are prepared to navigate market downturns. The study highlights a trend toward increasing allocations in actively managed ETFs.
CryptoPotato calls out more of the crypto findings from the “ETFs and Beyond” study. Nearly half of the surveyed investors expressed plans to invest in crypto ETFs, indicating a rising interest in digital assets. As noted in Yahoo! Finance as well, Millennials led the charge with 62% showing a strong inclination toward crypto products while interest from Gen X and Boomers was more moderate. The study highlights a notable shift towards integrating crypto ETFs into portfolios as interest in traditional markets evolves.
“Cryptocurrencies Surpass Fixed-Income Investments for ETF Investors” in Techopedia also takes a look at the insights gathered on the crypto topic by the Charles Schwab study. The article notes, “As the cryptocurrency market continues to evolve, these insights reveal the complicated landscape investors are navigating. While cryptocurrencies are gaining traction, they still have a long way to go before they can compete [with more traditional investment avenues.]”
To learn more, read the articles in Yahoo! Finance, ThinkAdvisor, CryptoPotato, and Techopedia, or reach out to us.
About the study
Schwab Asset Management commissioned Logica Research to conduct an online survey of a total of 2,200 individual investors between the ages of 25 and 75 with at least $25,000 in investable assets, 1,000 of whom have bought or sold ETFs in the past two years (ETF investors) and 1,000 of whom have never bought or sold ETFs or have not bought or sold ETFs within the past two years (non-ETF investors). Survey respondents included 200 investors who started investing in 2020 or after. The study was conducted from July 2nd to July 20th, 2024. Survey respondents were not asked to indicate whether they had accounts with Schwab. All data is self-reported by study participants and is not verified or validated.