Financial satisfaction of people in the U.S. rebounded strongly in the third quarter of the year, according to a new survey by the American Institute of CPAs, reversing the lows in the second quarter in the midst of the recession brought on by the novel coronavirus pandemic.
The AICPA’s Q3 2020 Personal Financial Satisfaction Index measured 33.1, representing a whopping 99 percent (16.5 point) increase from the previous quarter. That’s the biggest quarterly increase in the 27-year history of the PFSi, and a complete turnaround from the second quarter, when the index had its largest ever quarterly drop.
Matt Gilbert is VP, employer brand strategy at Appcast, the leading recruitment marketing platform powered by programmatic. With nearly 20 years of industry experience in employer brand, EVP and recruitment marketing. Matt is a recognized thought leader, industry speaker, and innovator, having developed and activated over 350 employer brand programs since entering the field. He and his teams have earned numerous industry awards in employer branding and other B2C areas. Matt is a sought-after employer brand expert and has worked with numerous notable organizations in employer brand such as Expedia Group, Disney Cruise Line, PepsiCo, Nike, Tyson Foods, Carmax, Pfizer, Aramco, Lockheed Martin, HCA, Conagra, Gallo Winery, Hanes Brands, American Red Cross, the ASPCA, Condé Nast, Amtrak, JPMorganChase, PayPal and more.
Natasha Brown is an implementation training manager with AP automation provider Yooz and a dedicated board member of the Accounting and Financial Women's Alliance. With over 24 years of expertise in contract and financial operations, SaaS software and B2B products, her ability to develop and lead cross-functional teams has made her a trusted expert in the field.
Dan Zhou, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of accountancy, and co-coordinator of the Gies Business Research Lab, at Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
The PFSi is built around various factors, including the labor market. The gains can be mainly attributed to improvements in job openings per capita and underemployment. Those had the biggest impact on increasing the overall PFSi. The biggest factor driving the quarter-over-quarter rally was a 35 percent (37 point) decrease in underemployment. A decrease in underemployment improves overall financial satisfaction in the index. While there was an improvement in underemployment in the third quarter from Q2’s record high, it’s still 117 percent above its level a year ago. For the second consecutive quarter, underemployment is still the biggest negative contributor to the average American’s personal financial satisfaction. The Q3 underemployment level reflects data measured through the middle of September.
“As Americans continue to navigate the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to remember that the fundamentals of financial planning haven’t changed,” said AICPA PFS Credential Committee chair Dave Stolz in a statement Thursday. “Though the stock market’s record performance is encouraging, 2020 has served as a reminder of the volatile nature of markets. As the impact of COVID-19 continues to play out across the country, investors should weigh their risk tolerance and ensure they have ample cash on hand. Further, a tax-efficient financial plan that includes a diversified portfolio can give confidence that long-term financial goals will remain within reach through this period of extreme uncertainty.”
The coronavirus put millions out of work, prompting job openings per capita to show a record plummet earlier this year. In the third quarter, job openings started to recover, climbing 37 percent (20 points) compared to Q2. That factor is now only 10 percent below its measurement a year ago before the pandemic. The Q3 index comes from July data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
