In June 2025, FTSE Russell, in partnership with 8 Acre Perspective, conducted the third wave of its U.S. retail investors study to capture valuable insights into how investors are using index-based investments, the support they seek from their advisors, and their outlook for the future.
The research surveyed 750 U.S. retail investors, with a mix of Millennials, Gen X and Baby Boomers. Respondents were age 25+, with a minimum of $250K investable assets (37% of respondents had $1million+ investable assets). Insights from this research include:
- Amid a year fraught with uncertainty, advisors have retained a high level of investor trust and helped them to stick to their strategies.
- In an apparent disconnect, investors remain optimistic about their own portfolios but less so regarding the equity market and economy. They’re especially nervous about inflation.
- Feeling under financial pressure, Gen X is the generation that’s most stressed about its investments and least happy with its advisors. There’s an opportunity to offer more customized service through tools like direct indexing.
- Index fund usage remains high, especially among Millennials. However, there’s significant interest in strategies suited to uncertain times like buffer ETFs.
