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Market pessimism among financial advisors and their clients has eased notably this summer, according to new data from the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards (CFP Board).
The Summer 2025 CFP Professionals Sentiment Indices (CPSI) reveal that just 16% of advisors say their clients hold a negative financial outlook—down sharply from 36% in spring. Pessimism among advisors themselves has also dropped, with only 9% feeling negative about their own finances, compared to 21% last quarter.
Meanwhile, nearly half of advisors report that clients now have a positive outlook—almost double the level seen earlier this year. Advisor optimism about their own finances is also rebounding, with three in five feeling upbeat, compared to 59% in winter and 67% in fall 2024.
Still, the picture isn’t entirely rosy. One in four advisors feel more cynical about their personal financial situation than they did a year ago. Looking forward, 37% expect economic conditions to improve over the next 12 months, 33% foresee no change, and 30% anticipate a decline.
On the business side, optimism is stronger: 73% of CFP professionals plan to take on more clients in the coming year, building on the 63% who have already expanded their client base in the past 12 months.
The CPSI findings contrast with sentiment among some investors. A recent survey by self-directed IRA platform Alto found that only 12% of investors believe current market conditions will support their retirement. Gen X respondents reported a median retirement savings of just $82,000, far below the $289,000 reported by Baby Boomers.
“The investing playbook no longer fits the way we are planning for retirement,” said Alto founder and CEO Eric Satz. “As an industry, we have a responsibility to evolve to empower investors with greater choice, more flexibility, and the tools to take control of their financial futures.”
The CPSI measures the outlook of more than 100,000 CFP professionals. The Summer 2025 edition surveyed 488 randomly selected advisors in mid-July.
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