Build client trust by guiding them through economic uncertainty.

As a financial professional, you are in a position to help your clients stay focused on their financial goals. That’s more important than ever as clients face ongoing uncertainty about their economic future.

Nationwide’s 2025 Economic Impact Survey found widespread concern about economic pressures is having an impact on Americans’ financial plans. The good news is, many people trust the guidance they receive from financial professionals to help them achieve their long-term goals.

Consumers’ gloomy outlook leads to caution.

Uncertainty is making many Americans more cautious when making financial decisions, with more than a third (35%) believing the economy will get worse in 2026.

Why are these consumers pessimistic?

Despite the lift from rising stock markets, one in four consumers (25%) who believe the U.S. economy will get worse in 2026 feel stocks are overvalued or in a bubble.

man and woman sitting at a café looking at a laptop

Economic uncertainty puts financial plans under strain.

Because of economic uncertainty and pessimism, consumers feel that many financial goals around retirement, healthcare and debt are getting farther from reach.

Percentage of consumers who anticipate greater difficulty in reaching key financial goals:

Managing healthcare costs

Paying off debt

Saving for retirement

Protecting their portfolios from market volatility

2 women sitting at a table and looking over a document

Build your business by growing trust.

Financial professionals have a big opportunity to build trust with clients and grow their practice by meeting clients where they are. Only one in four (25%) consumers surveyed currently work with a financial professional.

48%

say a financial professional is their most trusted financial resource. (Among current clients of financial professionals.)

Help your clients prepare for what's next.

As you work with current and prospective clients to help them plan for their financial future, turn to Nationwide for the support you need to build trust. Insights, tools and solutions from Nationwide can help you bring focus to client discussions and develop holistic financial plans around their specific needs.

Find client-ready resources on different planning topics.

Nationwide commissioned Edelman Data & Intelligence (DXI) to conduct a nationally representative online survey of 2,000 U.S. adults aged 18 and older from September 5–23, 2025. The survey was weighted to reflect the U.S. population by age, gender, region, and ethnicity. Edelman DXI adheres to all applicable research standards and guidelines.

This material is not a recommendation to buy or sell a financial product or to adopt an investment strategy. Investors should discuss their specific situation with their financial professional.