UBS Investor Watch June 2021: 3800 HNWIs in Survey, 90% Wants to Use Capital to Drive Change
7th June 2021 | Hong Kong
UBS, the Swiss banking group managing more than $4 trillion of assets, has released the UBS Investor Watch June 2021, surveying 3,800 investors with more than $1 million in investible assets in May 2021 across 15 markets including United States, United Kingdom, Switzerland, UAE, Russia, Japan, China, Hong Kong and Singapore.
“3800 HNWIs in Survey, 90% Wants to Use Capital to Drive Change”
In the survey findings of 3,800 HNWIs, the pandemic has transformed investors’ views on life with 79% responding the pandemic has made them reassess what is most important, and 90% wants to use capital to drive change.
More HNWIs are also more appreciate of what they have, and wants to find purpose and make a difference. They have also saved more due to COVID-19 restrictions and believe life experiences are more important than material things. In the survey result, there is also a bigger difference between younger (50 & below) and older (above 50), and a slight different between male and female. (HNWIs ~ High net worth individuals) View Report: UBS Investors Watch June 2021
Key findings:
- Goals have changed: 79% (COVID-19 made me reassess what’s most important)
- I want to align my investments with my values – 90% (Use capital to drive change)
- The pandemic made me realize life is short – 82% (May 2021)
- I want to make more of a difference – 68%
- I want to find purpose in my life – 68%
- I feel more appreciative of what I have – 93%
- I feel guilty for being more fortunate than many other people – 66%
- I am more interested in sustainable investing as a result of COVID-19 – 59%
- I saved more due to COVID-19 restrictions – 72%
- I believe life experiences are more important than material things – 77%
- It made me want to make more of a difference in the world – 79% vs 51% (Younger vs Older)
- It made me want to make more of a difference in the world – 75% vs 65% (Women vs Men)
Co-President of UBS Global Wealth Management and President of UBS Americas, Tom Naratil:
“The pandemic has prompted many investors to re-evaluate what matters most to them and now have a renewed desire to contribute more to benefit society. It is incredibly encouraging to see that purpose-driven investment will be a priority for investors in the years to come. This is a unique moment where wealth managers have the opportunity to help their clients create immense change and better outcomes for future generations.”
Co-President of UBS Global Wealth Management, Iqbal Khan:
“Globally, investors are motivated to play their part in making the world a better, more sustainable place. The heightened interest in charitable giving and desire to obtain sustainable investing advice from younger generations is a sign, too, that this mindset may be here to stay.”
The UBS Investor Watch June 2021
1. Pandemic transformed investors’ views on life:
Goals have changed: 79% (COVID-19 made me reassess what’s most important)
2. The new mindset:
- I want to make more of a difference – 68%
- I want to find purpose in my life – 68%
- I’ve become more religious / spiritual – 58%
- I want to be part of something bigger – 40%
- I want to retire earlier to enjoy life more – 40%
- I want to find more meaningful work – 38%
3. Most investors are eager to make up for lost time
- The pandemic made me realize life is short – 82% (May 2021)
- The pandemic made me realize life is short – 73% (May 2020)
- I plan to make up for lost time and do the things I missed most – 57%
- United States – 53%
- Latin America – 43%
- Asia Pacific – 63%
- Switzerland – 65%
- Europe (excl. Switzerland) – 59%
4. With new perspective, investors look to help others
- I feel more appreciative of what I have – 93%
- I feel guilty for being more fortunate than many other people – 66%
- Expect to give more – 48%
- Expect to give the same – 38%
- Expect to give less – 17%
5. Use capital to drive change
- I want to align my investments with my values – 90%
- I am more interested in sustainable investing as a result of COVID-19 – 59%
6. As life normalizes, most investors plan to spend even more than they did before COVID-19
- I expect to spend more – 51%
- No change – 24%
- I expect to spend less – 25%
- I saved more due to COVID-19 restrictions – 72%
7. Will focus time and money on life experiences
I believe life experiences are more important than material things – 77%
Travel / Vacations:
- Increase – 59%
- Decrease – 22%
- Remains the same – 19%
Dining out
- Increase – 52%
- Decrease – 23%
- Remains the same – 25%
Sports / entertainment
- Increase – 45%
- Decrease – 21%
- Remains the same – 34%
8. A generational divide has emerged from the pandemic (Younger vs Older):
- It made me want to make more of a difference in the world – 79% vs 51%
- It made me feel guilty – 78% vs 47%
It has made me more religious / spiritual – 69% vs 38% - I expect to give more – 52% vs 35%
- Investment opportunities – 78% vs 53%
- Sustainable investing options – 76% vs 37%
- Develop / update a comprehensive financial plan – 74% vs 40%
Younger: 50 years old & below
Older: Above 50 years old
9. Women lead change coming out of the pandemic (Female vs Male)
- It made me reassess what’s most important to me – 84% v 76%
- It made me want to make more of a difference in the world – 75% vs 65%
- I want to retire earlier to enjoy life – 45% vs 37%
- I expect to give more – 51% vs 42%
- Investment opportunities – 72% vs 67%
- Sustainable investing options – 69% vs 57%
- Develop / update a comprehensive financial plan – 69% vs 56%
About the survey: UBS Global Wealth Management provides financial advice and solutions to wealthy, institutional and corporate clients worldwide. As part of our leading research capabilities, we survey global investors on a regular basis to keep a pulse on their needs, goals and concerns. Since 2012, UBS Investor Watch tracks, analyzes and reports the sentiment of high net worth investors.
UBS Investor Watch surveys cover a variety of topics, including:
- Overall financial sentiment
- Economic outlook and concerns
- Personal goals and concerns
- Key topics, like aging and retirement
For this edition of UBS Investor Watch, UBS surveyed 3,800 investors with at least $1 million in investable assets. The global sample was split across 15 markets: Argentina, Brazil, mainland China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Singapore, Switzerland, the UAE, the UK and the US. The research was conducted in May 2021. Findings were compared to a study conducted in May of 2020 among more than 3,750 investors with similar asset levels and age groups.
About UBS
UBS provides financial advice and solutions to wealthy, institutional and corporate clients worldwide, as well as private clients in Switzerland. UBS’s strategy is centered on our leading global wealth management business and our premier universal bank in Switzerland, enhanced by Asset Management and the Investment Bank. The bank focuses on businesses that have a strong competitive position in their targeted markets, are capital efficient, and have an attractive long-term structural growth or profitability outlook.
UBS is present in all major financial centers worldwide. It has offices in more than 50 regions and locations, with about 31% of its employees working in the Americas, 32% in Switzerland, 19% in the rest of Europe, the Middle East and Africa and 18% in Asia Pacific. UBS Group AG employs over 67,000 people around the world. Its shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).
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