A new survey shows increasing optimism among clients about their financial situations, according to the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards.
The finding was among the results of the CFP Board’s Summer 2026 CFP® Professionals Sentiment Indices (CPSI).
The CPSI, conducted quarterly, tracks the financial outlook of Americans’ and CFP® professionals, and is seen as a leading indicator of overall economic conditions.
“Client confidence rebounded from its past spring dip and was slightly higher than this time last year,” the CFP Board stated. “The improvement in sentiment comes despite heightened national concern about inflation and affordability and greater market volatility driven by the conflict in the Middle East.”
According to the Board, the survey provides investors, the media and the public with a new set of data to evaluate the strength of the economy “through the lens of the trusted advisor-client relationship.” It also incorporates the insights of the CFP® professionals who advise Americans about their finances.
Each quarter CFP Board’s Research team sends an eight-question survey to 15,000 randomly selected CFP® professionals about the conversations they are having with their clients regarding their financial outlook, along with their own views. The Summer 2026 CPSI results reflect the responses from 423 CFP® professionals collected July 7–19.
CFP® professionals report that their clients are generally feeling more positive about their finances.
Key findings from the latest CPSI survey:
- CFP® professionals report that their clients are more optimistic about their financial outlook this summer than they were three months ago and one year ago.
- Half of CFP® professionals (51%) indicate that their clients’ sentiment has held steady over the past year, with similar proportions assessing their clients’ financial outlooks as having improved or worsened over the past 12 months.
- CFP® professionals themselves are also more optimistic, with 61% reporting a positive financial outlook.
- 70% of CFP® professionals report that their client bases have grown over the past year, and a similar share expects further growth over the next 12 months.
CFP® professionals note that their clients’ comments follow four major themes:
- Long-term optimism despite short-term uncertainty
- Market volatility creating anxiety
- Inflation and affordability, including the impact of higher energy costs
- Politics and the media influencing client sentiment.
Hyman Cotter PC represents advisors, brokers and other financial professional in all matters involving the CFP Board, including CFP Board investigations. Headquartered in Chicago, our securities attorneys represent clients nationwide. For more information relating to CFP Board investigations and discipline or other matters, contact Hyman Cotter at (833) 665-0784 or through our online contact form for a free consultation.
