Wealthy investors confident about 2010 and plan to re-structure their portfolios, survey shows

Written by Ray Clancy

Tuesday, 01 June 2010 12:00

Over half of wealthy investors around the world have increased their worth over the last 12 months despite the recession and 80% expect to continue doing so, a survey reveals.

High earners are growing increasingly bullish about wealth creation and 50% of them are looking to re-structure their investment portfolios, according to the Futurewealth Insight, a survey of high net worth individuals from the Scorpio Partnership and Standard Chartered private bank.

In 2010 49% expect to invest in direct equities, 42% in pensions, 36% in real estate and 35% will put money in high interest earning savings accounts. Some 33% are interested in collective investment schemes, 25% in exchange traded funds, 14% in direct fixed income opportunities, 10% in structured products and 10% in private equity. While 24% are looking at other investments.

The survey shows that confidence is increasing. When it was first carried out last September some 41% said their wealth had increased while 34% said they had lost money.

But by March this year 56% said they had made money, and just a fifth said their wealth had decreased. By March next year, just 7% expect their net worth to fall, versus 81% expecting it to grow.

The survey also found that a third will either launch a business or invest in a start-up this year. Almost half said a major goal this year is to identify new investment opportunities. They may not know exactly what those investments may be but there is a clear sense that the current flux in global markets and economies will present new investment opportunities.

‘The future wealthy are vocal, positive, globally mobile and highly demanding in terms of service quality. Their high level of confidence confirms our expectations about the market's growth potential,’ said Peter Flavel, global head of the Standard Chartered Private Bank.