2026 High-Net-Worth Investor Research: The Connection Between Confidence, Expertise, and Growth

High satisfaction and loyalty scores tell advisors how clients rate the relationship today. They say much less about which clients will stay engaged, refer friends and family, or quietly drift. This report draws on a 2026 survey of 1,000 high-net-worth investors, conducted by Investments & Wealth Institute and Absolute Engagement, to examine client confidence as a leading indicator of growth. 

The report looks at how confidence tracks with loyalty and referrals, where inertia may be masking relationship risk, and how clients' awareness of their advisor's advanced professional certifications relates to how confident they feel. The data also point to what separates clients who understand the value of those certifications from clients who don't: whether the advisor explains them, and keeps explaining them over time.

Key Takeaways

1. Confident clients are about five times more likely to make referrals than clients with low confidence.
2. 46 percent of high-confidence clients said their advisor holds a Certified Investment Management Analyst^® (CIMA^®), Certified Private Wealth Advisor^® (CPWA^®), or Retirement Management Advisor^® (RMA^®) certification, compared with 19 percent of low-confidence clients.
3. 43 percent of high-confidence clients said their advisor regularly shares updates on the continuing education behind their certifications, compared with 22 percent of low-confidence clients. Among low-confidence clients, 51 percent don't know whether their advisor holds any advanced professional certifications.
4. 68 percent of HNW investors said they are more likely to refer an advisor who holds advanced professional certifications, rising to 74 percent among those with $5 million or more in investable assets. 82 percent said certifications would factor into choosing a new advisor.