Spectrem Affluent Investor Confidence Index Jumps to Five-Month High in February

CHICAGO, IL--(Marketwired - Feb 24, 2015) - Lower gas prices, a strong jobs report and Dow performance in February brought a five-point increase in the Spectrem Affluent Investor Confidence Index (SAICI®) to 12, a five-month high, Spectrem Group announced today. The Spectrem Millionaire Investor Confidence Index (SMICI®) gained three points to 13, a three-month high.

The indices, compiled by Spectrem Group, a market research and consulting firm specializing in the affluent and retirement markets, measure the investment confidence and outlook of households with more than $500,000 of investable assets (SAICI), and $1 million of investable assets (SMICI).

The February SAICI increased 14 points from February 2014, while the SMICI increased 8 points.

These shifts are driven primarily by:

• The recent strong jobs report
• The Dow topping 18,000
• Wealthy investors' increased confidence in the economy
• Lower gas prices giving a boost to household income
  
  

"We're seeing more participation in the market in February with investors indicating an investment preference for equities," said George H. Walper, Jr., president of Spectrem Group. "Tumultuous events overseas, such as Greece's ongoing debt crisis, are currently having the most impact on Affluent investors' economic outlook."

International News impacting Affluent investors' Economic Outlook includes:

• Greece's ongoing debt crisis
• Tensions between Russia and Ukraine
• ISIS' onslaught throughout the Middle East
  
  

Charts, deeper analysis of the Index and methodology are available upon request. Additional insights include:

• Affluent Investors Focused on International News
• Spectrem Millionaire Investor Confidence Index Jumps to Five-Month High
  
  

	October, 2014	November, 2014	December, 2014	January, 2015	February, 2015
Spectrem Affluent Investor Confidence Index®	5	6	11	7	12
Spectrem Millionaire Investor Confidence Index®	8	13	16	10	13

Index range: -31 to -51, Bearish; -11 to -30, Mildly Bearish; 10 to -10, Neutral; 11 to 30, Mildly Bullish; 31 to 51, Bullish.

About Spectrem Group: Spectrem Group (www.spectrem.com) strategically analyzes its ongoing primary research with investors to assist financial providers and advisors in understanding the Voice of the Investor.

About Millionaire Corner: Spectrem's Millionaire Corner website (www.millionairecorner.com) provides information for investors about investors. With its Best Financial Advisors service, investors are able to search for financial and investment advisors to assist in growing their wealth.