Amid Market Uncertainty, RIAs Stay Bullish on Their Own Growth

A new survey by Interactive Brokers (Nasdaq: IBKR), an automated global electronic broker, reveals that independent registered investment advisors (RIAs) are reallocating client assets outside the US as confidence in domestic markets wanes. Forty-two percent of independent financial advisors surveyed are investing more in non-US equities, while a similar amount (40%) are dialing back client exposure to US equities.

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The 2025 Interactive Brokers Advisor Insights Survey found that these moves align with a growing market skepticism: 62% of advisors report being more bearish in their outlook today compared to 12 months ago, with only 12% reporting increased optimism. Recent spikes in market volatility and economic uncertainty have led advisors to dampen their enthusiasm for the US: 36% of survey respondents call themselves bears, whereas 31% say they are bulls. Advisors hold a more favorable outlook on global markets: 38% are bullish, while 11% are bearish.

Advisors cite tariffs and changing US policies as their biggest concerns about their markets and economy. More than half (52%) note that clients are most worried about the impact of the current market volatility on their portfolios, and one in five (20%) say clients are most worried about retirement.

In addition to shifting clients’ equity exposure globally, advisors are also redirecting client assets in other ways:

• 29% are increasing fixed income investments
• 28% are investing more in commodities
• 27% are increasing exposure to non-US currencies
• 37% are increasing cash holdings (US dollars)

Advisors are very optimistic about their prospects for success this year: 61% are confident that their businesses will grow this year, and of these, 17% are extremely confident about their ability to grow.

“Advisors are acting as strategic shock absorbers for their clients right now—managing risk by leaning into global diversification,” said Steve Sanders, Executive Vice President of Marketing & Product Development at Interactive Brokers. “They’re navigating market volatility and client anxiety while also juggling more new business—as more investors tend to seek out professional guidance during choppy market cycles.”

Interactive Brokers helps RIAs and independent financial advisors streamline operations, scale efficiently, and deliver a more competitive, personalized client experience — all through a powerful suite of trading, custody and account management tools, low costs, and global market access. To learn more, please visit IBKR Advisor Solutions.

About the 2025 Interactive Brokers Advisor Insights Survey

Interactive Brokers surveyed its independent financial advisor clients to gauge their sentiment on their firms’ operations in the current market environment. The global email survey, which was conducted in April 2025, was completed by 113 fee-based financial advisors with an average of 19.4 years of experience. Survey respondents indicated they work at firms with an average of $120.2 million in client assets under management.

About Interactive Brokers Group, Inc.

Interactive Brokers Group affiliates provide automated trade execution and custody of securities, commodities, foreign exchange, and forecast contracts around the clock on over 160 markets in numerous countries and currencies from a single unified platform to clients worldwide. We serve individual investors, hedge funds, proprietary trading groups, financial advisors and introducing brokers. Our four decades of focus on technology and automation have enabled us to equip our clients with a uniquely sophisticated platform to manage their investment portfolios. We strive to provide our clients with advantageous execution prices and trading, risk and portfolio management tools, research facilities and investment products, all at low or no cost, positioning them to achieve superior returns on investments. Interactive Brokers has consistently earned recognition as a top broker, garnering multiple awards and accolades from respected industry sources such as Barron's, Investopedia, Stockbrokers.com, and many others.

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“Advisors are acting as strategic shock absorbers for their clients right now—managing risk by leaning into global diversification,” said Steve Sanders, Executive Vice President of Marketing & Product Development at Interactive Brokers.