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.
As special counsel, Zoe Sharp advises Board Member Lewis H. Ferguson on all matters that come before the Board for decision. Prior to becoming Special Counsel in March 2013, Ms. Sharp worked as counsel in the Division of Enforcement and Investigations. In that role, she assisted in investigation and litigation of possible violations of the PCAOB rules and other applicable securities laws and professional standards. Before joining the PCAOB in March 2012, Ms. Sharp was an assistant general counsel at Sallie Mae, Inc. She also practiced as a general litigator at Williams & Connolly LLP. Earlier, Ms. Sharp served as a law clerk to Judge Sidney H. Stein of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
Lewis H. Ferguson was appointed by the Securities and Exchange Commission to be a member of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board in January 2011. In April of 2015, he began a four year term as Chair of the Global Public Policy Committee Working Group of the International Forum of Independent Audit Regulators (IFIAR). From April 2013-April 2015, he served as Chair of IFIAR following a one-year term as vice chair. From 2004 to 2007, Mr. Ferguson served as the first General Counsel of the PCAOB. Before joining the PCAOB as a Board Member, Mr. Ferguson was a partner in the law firm of Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP, where he focused on securities regulation, disclosure issues and corporate governance matters. Earlier from 1979 to 1994 and from 1998 to 2004, he was a partner at the law firm of Williams & Connolly LLP, specializing in corporate transactions, securities enforcement matters and representation of audit committees and boards of directors. From 1994 to 1998, he was Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Director of Wright Medical Technology. Mr. Ferguson also has been a Director at several public and private companies, primarily in the medical device and technology areas. He was an Adjunct Professor of Law at the Georgetown University Law School.
Tom Dresslar is a former reporter and also served as a deputy commissioner at the California Department of Business Oversight. He is now retired.
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.
