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.
Stephen Goldstein is Vice President, Client Experience Lead for RGAX, the transformation engine of Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated (RGA). Stephen works closely with insurance companies in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and South America to develop needs-based solutions.
He most recently spent four years with Prudential Assurance in Malaysia in a range of business development roles culminating with Director, PD Sales Management. Previously, he was with Prudential plc, where he first led agency operations into Eastern Europe and Ireland, and then served as Principal Auditor for the Group Head office in London. Before then, he was a wholesaler with Jackson National Life Insurance Co.
Stephen’s global experience in the insurance and financial services industries spans corporate roles in the U.S., Europe and Asia, with a focus on distribution, operations, audit, market entry, consumer financial advice, and corporate strategy. Through his consulting practice, Stephen has also helped insurtech startups with their sales and go-to-market initiatives.
Stephen’s Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Business Management and Entrepreneurship from the University of Arizona includes coursework at the University’s Eller College of Management business school.
By incentivizing businesses to rehire employees laid off or furloughed due to COVID-19, states will generate a faster economic recovery and provide valuable assistance for companies to get back on their feet.
The Internal Revenue Service and the Treasury Department provided guidance to employers requiring them to report the amount of qualified sick and family leave wages they have paid to their employees under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act on Form W-2.
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.
