Whilst most financial advisers are erring on the side of caution and looking to diversify in order to keep their heads above water, AXA's findings have shown that over a quarter of IFAs are "very confident" about business growth in 2008, with a further 53 per cent saying they were "quite confident" despite widespread concerns over the UK economy.
IFAs did admit that they believed client expectations and investment choices were shifting, however the clients themselves put paid to this theory after over half claimed they were not changing their investment preferences or strategies as a result of stock market instability.
Indeed only 12 per cent of IFAs said that their clients were opting to stick with cash-based investments until the market regains a degree of stability.
Nick Turner, director of sales at AXA Wealth Management, said that supporting clients is definitely the key growth area for today's IFAs: "The more complicated the marketplace, the more clients need well balanced financial guidance. During these difficult market conditions it is especially important to keep a close eye on client portfolios in order to provide some cushion from market fluctuations.
"AXA shares this confidence in the outlook for business growth and looks forward to working alongside intermediaries to help provide the investment solutions needed by their clients in these turbulent times."
