Investors Most Prize Rate of Return on Statements

DALBAR’s Investor Statement Preferences study found the overall rate of return in the account is the single most important statement item, with more than half of respondents ranking it as critically important. Total fees charged was the second highest rated item investors want on their statements, according to a press release.

More than half of investors consider statement messages from their financial adviser to be important. Investors also say that sections that summarize statement details are also critical to their understanding.

“Declining trust in financial services has pushed up demand for fee disclosure,” said Kathleen Whalen, Managing Director at DALBAR,. “It’s clear that investors want to know what benefits they receive in the form of returns and what these benefits are costing them.”

DALBAR said the results of the study contribute to the weighting of its statement rating criteria, which are used to evaluate individual investment and benefit statements. 

A copy of the study can be purchased at www.dalbar.com, or  by contacting Brooke Halloran at 617-624-7273 or bhalloran@dalbar.com.