Financial advisors remained confident in the state of the economy and the stock market in July, according to the WMIQ Advisor Sentiment Index.
The index, a monthly poll of registered investment advisors meant to gauge their feelings around the health of the markets and the economy, revealed that advisor optimism over the economy ticked up two points to 119 from last month, while the index’s reading for the stock market only increased by one point to 128. Both are at the highest level this year. (A score of 100 reflects an entirely neutral view.)
Advisors’ views on the economy are improving, with 52% having a positive outlook, while just 9% have a negative outlook. Meanwhile, the number of advisors who have a positive outlook on the economy by July 2026 is slipping, down to 56% compared to 62% in June. A quarter of advisors (25%) anticipate an economic decline over the next 12 months.
In their responses to the survey, advisors voiced concerns about the national debt, persistent inflation and high interest rates and listed tariffs as a disruptive force on the economy. Advisors were split between crediting the Trump administration’s trade policies with driving economic movement and warning that ongoing tariff volatility remains a major risk to economic and market stability.
While 71% of advisors consider the state of the stock market to be positive, optimism is waning. The percentage of those who expect a net improvement in the markets over the next six months declined 29% to 46%, while over the next 12 months, 58% expect the stock market to rise, which is a decrease of 25% from June.
Many advisors surveyed said equity markets were overvalued and vulnerable to corrections, which would lead to slow, steady gains or short-term declines followed by modest recovery.
Advisors also saw trends and uncertainty in structural shifts driven by artificial intelligence, cryptocurrencies and the blockchain that are changing how business, employment and financial engagement operate.
Methodology, data collection and analysis by WealthManagement.com and Informa Engage. Data collected July 7-29, 2025. Methodology conforms to accepted marketing research methods, practices and procedures. Beginning in January 2024, WealthManagement.com began promoting a brief monthly survey to active users. Data will be collected each month going forward, with a goal of at least 100 financial advisor respondents per month. Respondents are asked for their view on the economy and the stock markets both currently, in six months and in one year. Responses are weighted and used to create an index tied to a neutral value of 100. Over time, the ASI will provide directional sentiment of retail-facing financial advisors.
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