Edward Jones Study: Most Americans Worried About Market Volatility Following 2016 Presidential Election

Americans concerned about both short- and long-term implications of election outcome

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Oct 27, 2016, 12:54 ET

ST. LOUIS, Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Six in 10 Americans (59 percent) worry that the outcome of the 2016 presidential election will lead to market volatility in the near term, according to a recent study from Edward Jones. The study, which was conducted between October 13-16, took into account the opinions of over 1000 interviewees across generations, regions and income levels.

"Many investors become anxious during election season as it's easy to get caught up in every potential policy implication of the presidential race," said Kate Warne, principal and investment strategist for Edward Jones. "It's important to ensure that your investment strategy focuses on achieving your financial goals over the long term. If you focus on building a diversified portfolio of quality investments, short-term election or market worries are less likely to disrupt your progress toward your goals."

The long-term implications of the election are also top of mind for many Americans. Of those who have begun to financially prepare for retirement, nearly half (46 percent) feel that the result of the presidential election will affect their long-term retirement savings and investment portfolio. One-third (33 percent) of Americans feel that the outcome of the election will have a negative effect on these assets.

"Investors can't afford to let short-term volatility veer their retirement plans off course. Although the outcome of a presidential election certainly influences the overall direction of policy decisions, the mix of investments you own makes more difference to your long-term "victory" or "defeat" as an investor than any election results," Warne said. "With this in mind, consult with your financial advisor before making any changes to your portfolio to ensure that you aren't overreacting as you prepare for retirement."

Methodology
This survey was conducted by ORC International's Telephone CARAVAN® Omnibus on behalf of Edward Jones. The survey was conducted among a nationally representative sample of 1011 respondents from October 13-16, 2016.

About Edward Jones
Edward Jones, a FORTUNE 500 firm, provides financial services for individual investors in the United States and, through its affiliate, in Canada. Every aspect of the firm's business, from the types of investment options offered to the location of branch offices, is designed to cater to individual investors in the communities in which they live and work. The firm's 13,000-plus financial advisors work directly with nearly 7 million clients. Edward Jones, which ranked No. 10 on FORTUNE magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work For 2016," is headquartered in St. Louis. The Edward Jones Web site is located at www.edwardjones.com and its recruiting Web site is www.careers.edwardjones.com. Follow Edward Jones on Twitter @EdwardJones and visit the firm's Facebook site at www.facebook.com/edwardjones. Member SIPC.