Financial uncertainty is taking its toll – so says recent research on changing attitudes and behaviours of US adults towards money, financial decision-making, and long-term financial security.
The 2025 Northwestern Mutual Planning & Progress Study revealed that money worries are causing 63% of US adults to lose sleep.
And this isn't the only unsettling statistic :
• 69% say financial uncertainty has caused them to feel depressed and anxious.
• 57% of people who are married or living with their partner say financial uncertainty has impacted their relationship.
• 55% say financial concerns have caused them to miss out on a social event.
• 49% say worries about money have affected their performance at work.
• 47% say financial worries have made them feel physically ill.
In all cases, figures are significantly higher among Gen Z and Millennials.
While the stats reveal that emotions about money are showing up in people's day-to-day lives in a variety of ways, working with a financial planner can help to decrease the stress.
Indeed, according to the same report, 76% of Americans who worked with a financial adviser described their finances as “strong” – compared with just 44% of those who didn't have an adviser.
Among many positive benefits of working with a financial planner, here’s how financial planning expertise can help soothe your nerves and contribute to your overall wellbeing.
Set your goals and make a plan to achieve them
Financial planning starts with your goals and aspirations.
In your first meeting with a planner, the conversation will focus on your future plans. During this typically relaxed conversation, your financial planner will tease out your financial concerns and priorities.
This initial conversation helps to form the foundations of your financial plan. Your long-term plan will evolve as life changes, but is there to give you confidence and peace of mind for your future.
Most of us find it hard to project our future income. And attempting the calculations without the right experience can be near impossible.
We can use cashflow modelling tools to help you better understand your financial situation. This can help give some perspective on how your plan will work and allow you a useful opportunity to visualise how your plan is progressing.
Avoid making poor decisions that could lose you money
One important yet often overlooked aspect of working with a financial planner is the education and coaching they provide, which could help you avoid making poor financial decisions.
As humans have evolved, we’ve learned bad habits and biases, many of which we're unaware of.
This is true of how we think about our finances too. For instance, we value the near term more than the long term. We buy high and sell low, and we hold on to investments that have fallen in value, hoping that we can recoup our losses.
In our role as financial coach, we can help you avoid these mistakes.
Because we understand the financial markets and how fluctuations may or may not affect your investments over the long term, we can make sure you don't react the wrong way and damage your wealth.
Diversify for greater potential returns
When investing your money, it’s important to avoid putting all your eggs in one basket.
Financial planning can ensure you have a well-diversified investment portfolio to deliver the returns you desire while also reflecting your tolerance for risk.
We’ll also take care to structure your financial plan to maximise tax efficiencies too. This is important because it can first help you to save, and then ensure you make the most of tax breaks when you begin to spend your money in retirement.
Read more: “Don't put all your eggs in one basket.” Here's why it matters for your investments
To make the most of your investments, it's vital that the associated costs don't impede the ability for your wealth to grow. This is another important area we take care of for you.
Profit from forming a long-lasting relationship with your financial planner
Because we understand your objectives, as well as your tolerance for risk, we can stay alert and spot opportunities where you might benefit from new products, tax changes, and better strategies to manage your long-term wealth.
Your relationship with your financial planner should be long-lasting. This allows you to build trust with your planner. And it means your planner gains a deep understanding of your needs and desires.
If you don't call on us for guidance, we'll call you for an annual review to ensure your plan is on track to meet your goals and ensure it reflects any changes that might have occurred since we last met.
As the figures in the abovementioned study illustrate, being in regular contact with your financial planner provides significant positive benefits, especially in terms of feeling in control of your finances.
How it all adds up
As well as feeling more confident about your finances and gaining valuable peace of mind, expert financial planning can also deliver “game-changing” outcomes.
Working with a financial planner can give you a valuable sense of control over your money. They will help you identify your goals and create a plan geared towards attaining your short- and long-term dreams.
Research carried out by the International Longevity Centre UK found that, over the course of 10 years, people who had sought financial advice were, on average, £47,000 better off than those who had taken care of things themselves.
Considering that this research was done over the course of a decade and spanned the 2008 financial crisis, this outcome was impressive.
So, start with your dreams and let us help you plan to achieve them.
Get in touch
Our team of experienced financial planners can help make a clear plan for protecting and growing your wealth. We’ll take the time to get to know you and understand your ambitions, and create unique wealth solutions for every stage of your life.
If you’d like to learn more about how we can help you improve and support your financial wellbeing, please get in touch. Email enquiries@alexanderpeter.com or give us a call on +44 1689 493455.
Please note
This article is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at retail clients only.
All information is correct at the time of writing and is subject to change in the future.
The value of your investments (and any income from them) can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.
Investments should be considered over the longer term and should fit in with your overall attitude to risk and financial circumstances.
The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate cashflow planning.
