During this month, which is Financial Literacy Month, it is interesting to note the high level of financial stress that COVID-19 is creating among many consumers. This underscores the need for many agents and advisors to fully participate in Financial Literacy Month and help their clients during these trying times.
According to a new survey released by the National Endowment for Financial Education, nearly nine in 10 (88 percent) Americans say the COVID-19 crisis is causing stress on their personal finances.
More than half (54 percent) of Americans say that among the top five things causing the most financial stress right now is not having enough saved (41 percent for emergency savings; 23 percent for retirement), while almost half (48 percent) of individuals say they are worried about their ability to pay bills (28 percent for both housing payments and utilities; 19 percent for health care bills).
With recent news from the Department of Labor that one in 10 Americans is now seeking unemployment benefits, it’s clear that worry about job security could be escalating.
The NEFE survey finds that 39 percent of employed* Americans say stress about job security is among their top financial concerns. The survey was conducted online by The Harris Poll, on behalf of NEFE, from April 7-9, 2020, among more than 2,000 U.S. adults.
“This outbreak is an unprecedented event and it’s understandable that Americans from all income levels, ethnicities and regions are concerned about their finances and are taking steps to adjust to their new normal,” says Billy Hensley, Ph.D., president and CEO of Denver-based NEFE. “While the strain from this crisis is immense, there should be focus on protecting our financial well-being in addition to our physical health and the safety of our families.”
According to the survey, 29 percent of Americans say they are concerned about income fluctuations (e.g., loss of income, reduced income), and 25 percent say they are worried about financial market volatility (e.g. stock market losses).
Interestingly, the level of concern over personal finances due to COVID-19 is consistent for those on opposite ends of the income spectrum.
Nearly eight in 10 (79 percent) of Americans with household incomes (HHI) less than $50,000 per year say they are at least somewhat concerned about their personal finance situation, compared to the same percentage (79 percent) for those with HHI over $100,000 per year. Those within the middle-income brackets are somewhat less concerned (73 percent for those with an annual HHI of $50,000-$100,000).
The survey also finds that the outlook for personal finances a year from now is proportionately low. Over two in five (41 percent) of Americans say they will feel “very/somewhat worried” about their financial situation 12 months from now, compared to one in three (34 percent) who will feel “very/somewhat optimistic” about their financial situation a year from now.
“Historically, Americans are very optimistic about the future despite their current circumstance. These data seem to be more pessimistic than other studies like this,” says Hensley.
Steps to adjust personal finances
While concern about money is clear during this health crisis, a majority (75 percent) of Americans say they have taken steps to adjust their personal finances due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Over two in five (42 percent) note they have cut monthly expenses, 26 percent are putting off major financial decisions (e.g., buying/selling a home, making a major purchase), and 22 percent have increased contributions toward savings (e.g., emergency, retirement). Just 17 percent say they have tapped into an emergency savings with 6 percent saying they have borrowed against retirement savings.
Additionally, only 12 percent say they plan to defer bill/debt payments and 10 percent say they have taken on more credit card debt.
Most Concerned Groups
Additionally, the groups who note the greatest level of concern about their personal financial situation are:
For more information on the survey, click here.