Financial Management/ Planning

New Research Shows Most American Households Do Financial Planning, But the Extent of This Planning Varies Greatly

The 2013 Household Financial Planning Survey and Index is a follow-up to the 2012 Household Financial Planning Survey released by Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards (CFP Board) and Consumer Federation of America (CFA). The 2012 survey found that even in an uncertain economic climate, financial planning leads to better outcomes for those who take the time and make the effort to plan. Planners showed themselves to be more confident about their financial decision-making ability, able to save more money, and more pleased with their progress in meeting savings goals. Although planners tended to have higher household income levels, even within major income categories, those who planned did better than those who did not.