The document provides a summary of key findings from a survey of 1,000 US adults about personal finance experiences and perceptions. Some key findings include: - Nearly half have less savings than expected and almost three-quarters feel behind on retirement savings. - Most hold some type of debt and feel it prevents fulfilling life, but only half feel comfortable discussing debt. - Lack of income/funds, not behavior, are cited as main reasons for financial issues. - Financial education is seen as key to debt reduction and savings but many lack access to resources.

1. 1
EDELMAN INTELLIGENCE
Experian Financial Blogger
Survey Report
September 2016

2. 2
WHO HOW MANY ACCURACY WHEN HOW
Adults, Nationwide n=1,000 Margin of Error =
+/- 3.1%
Data Collection
Occurred
August 2-9, 2016
Online Survey
(Average of 13
minutes)
RESEARCH OBJECTIVE:
Garner mediagenic data around experiences, knowledge and perceptions related to personal finance.
Research Methodology
Note that throughout this report, total percentages may add up to 99% or 101% due to rounding.

3. 3
Key Findings
 At first glance, respondents feel optimistic about their finances, but stress surrounding
income expectations, debt reduction and retirement investments prevents strong confidence
in their financial future
 Nearly half (46%) have less money in their savings than they had expected; almost three-quarters of
respondents say they are behind in their retirement savings
 82% of respondents hold some type of debt, and although most agree debt prevents them from
living life to the fullest, only half actually feel comfortable talking about debt
 Lack of income and funds are given as the main reason for financial woes, not respondents’
fiscal behavior
 Financial education is key to debt reduction and savings
 Those that are comfortable with stocks and bonds invest in them; but 70% do not
currently invest and 41% will not invest in the future due to lack of funds and knowledge
 73% say they need more resources to help them pay off their debt

4. PERSONAL FINANCE

5. 5
Although people feel better off than last year when it
comes to financial security, only 17% feel “very secure”
when it comes to their personal finances
Q2. Today, how secure do you feel about your personal finances?
Q3. Generally, do you feel more or less financially secure than you did last year?
How secure do you feel about
your personal finances?
8% 27% 47% 17%
Not at all secure Not too secure Somewhat secure Very secure
Do you feel more or less
financially secure than you did
last year?
43%
32%
26%
More
secure
No
difference
Less
secure
64% feel secure

6. 6
Moderate priority
And although the majority feel confident in their
ability to achieve financial goals, that confidence is
soft
17%
24%
20%
24%
46%
33%
33%
30%
40%
24%
15%
12%
23%
35%
18%
31%
40%
45%
38%
68%
Setting aside money to start a…
Having money to travel the world
Saving for education
Buying a home / paying my…
Having disposable income
Building my credit history
Setting aside money for retirement
Paying off my debt
Building up my emergency savings
Paying for my basic needs
Financial Goals
Q5. Below is a list of different financial goals. How much of a priority are each of these for you, personally? (Showing % Moderate/Top
Priority)
Q6. How confident are you that you can achieve your financial goals on your current income? (Showing % Somewhat/Very Confident)
Confidence in Ability to
Achieve
Financial Goals
42%
22%
Somewhat confident Very confident
• Nearly half (42%) only feel “somewhat confident” in their ability to achieve financial
goals
• Top financial priorities are paying for basic needs, building up emergency savings
and paying off debt
64%
0 Top priority
92%
78%
75%
73%
64%
64%
59%
43%
36%
32%

7. 7
5% 21% 44% 30%
Never Rarely Sometimes Frequently
How often do you feel stressed due to your finances?
Q4. How often, if ever, do you feel stressed due to your finances or financial situation?
Most adults report feeling stressed due to finances at
least “sometimes”
74% feel stressed due to
finances at least “sometimes”

8. 8
Q7. Today, are you earning more or less than you thought you would be 5 years ago?
Q8. About how often do you think about needing to increase your income?
About how often do
you think about
needing to increase
your income?
Daily 37%
Weekly 18%
Monthly 17%
Quarterly 8%
Annually 9%
Less than
annually
6%
Never 5%
55% think
about
needing to
increase
their
income
weekly or
more
Are you earning more or less
than you thought you would be
5 years ago?
30%
30%
41%
More
About the
same
Less
Nearly half of respondents (41%) are earning less than
they thought they would be 5 years ago
• Most think about needing to increase their income on a daily or weekly basis

9. 9
35%
21%
13%
13%
12%
6%
Not Enough Income
Unexpected Bills
Cost of Living
Overspending on Unnecessary
Things
Debt Payments
Other
Do you have more or less money
in savings today than you
expected you would 5 years ago?
30%
20%
46%
5%
More
About the
same
Less
Unsure
Q22. Would you say that you have more money or less money in savings today than you expected that you would 5 years ago?
Q23. Looking at the following list, what would you say is the biggest obstacle to increasing your savings?
What is the biggest obstacle to
increasing your savings?
• Nearly half (46%) have less in savings than they thought they would 5 years ago
Low income is cited as the biggest obstacle to
increasing savings

10. BUDGETING &
SPENDING

11. 11
58%
42%
Ye
s
Q12. Do you use a budget for your personal / household spending
Q13. For what reasons do you use a budget? (Asked if they use a budget; n=XX)
Do you use a budget for your
personal / household
spending?
Nearly half (42%) do not use a budget; those that do,
use one to control their spending
35%
38%
40%
45%
46%
69%
To help me stop worrying about
my finances
To track my progress toward
achieving my financial goals
To keep me on track to
achieving my long-term…
To better understand my
spending habits
To motivate me to keep saving
money
To help me control my
spending
Why do you use a budget?

12. 12
58%
42%Ye
s
Q12. Do you use a budget for your personal / household spending
Q14. What is the primary reason that you do not prepare a budget? (Asked if they don’t use a budget; n=XX)
Do you use a budget for your
personal / household
spending?
Those who do not use a budget simply believe it is
unnecessary for them
16%
16%
23%
38%
Don't know how
Not enough time
Ineffective
Unnecessary
Why don’t you use a budget?

13. 13
Sticking to a budget is the top skill respondents say they
wish they knew how to do better
5%
9%
25%
26%
28%
How to qualify for a loan
How to make a budget
How to invest in stocks/bonds
How to increase my savings
rate
How to stick to a budget
Gaps in Financial Knowledge
Q9. What is one thing you wish you knew how to do better financially?
Q10. Which of the following statements comes closest to your opinion?
39%
61%
Which do you agree with?
I have a hard time finding
financial education resources
Financial education resources
are readily available to me
• 39% say they have a hard time finding financial education resources

14. 14
About half of respondents report making an impulse
purchase at least monthly; the top motivation is finding
a great deal
5%
17%
7%
20%
28%
18%
4%
Never
Less than annually
Annually
Quarterly
Monthly
Weekly
Daily
How often do you
make an impulse
purchase?
Q15. How often do you make an “impulse purchase” – meaning how often do you make an unplanned decision to buy a product or
service just before purchasing it?
Q16. When are you most likely to make an impulse purchase? (Asked if they make impulse purchases)
When are you most likely
to make an impulse
purchase?
7%
10%
15%
20%
27%
29%
70%
If I want to impress someone
If I’m unsure of my budget
If I’m having a bad day
If someone encourages me
If I’m in a good mood
If I recently got a paycheck
If I find a great deal

15. FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS

16. 16
Most respondents check their account balances on a
weekly basis
Q17. Which of the following types of financial accounts do you currently hold?
Q18. How regularly do you check your account balance(s)? (Asked if they have any type of account)
How regularly do you check your
account balance(s)?
4%
18%
44%
35%
Quarterly or less
Monthly
Weekly
Daily
5%
5%
19%
4…
63%
67%
88%
None of the above
Informal savings
club
Brokerage account
Retirement savings
account
Credit card account
Savings account
Checking account
Which of the following types of
financial accounts do you
currently hold?

17. 17
7%
9%
9%
10%
15%
23%
24%
None of these
Company reputation
Mobile / paperless banking
offerings
Access to ATMs
Interest rates
Banking fees
Customer service
What has the most
impact on satisfaction?
Q19. How satisfied are you with your current bank or credit union? (Asked if they have a checking or savings account)
Q20. Which one of the following would you say has the most impact on your satisfaction or dissatisfaction with your bank or credit union?
(Asked if they have a checking or savings account)
57%
38%
6%
Very
satisfied
Somewhat
satisfied
Dissatisfied
Financial Institution Satisfaction
Bank satisfaction is high — 57% feel “very satisfied” with
their current bank or credit union
• Satisfaction is driven by customer service and banking fees

18. Saving and Investing

19. 19
On average, respondents spend only 13% of their income
on savings and investments
Q11. Approximately what percentage of your income goes toward…?
35%
33%
18%
13%
Other necessities Housing Other spending Savings and
Investments
Approximately what percentage of your income goes towards . . .
(Showing average)

20. 20
The most common recent major purchases include cars
and vacations
Q21. What is the last major purchase you saved for?
What is the last major purchase you saved for?
29%
23%
13%
4%
5%
26%
Car
Vacation
House
Wedding
Other
I have not saved for a major purchase

21. 21
Q26. Do you currently invest in stocks or bonds?
Q27. How comfortable do you feel with your investments? (Asked if they invest)
53%
33%
Very Comfortable
Somewhat Comfortable
Comfort with Investing
30%
29%
41%
Yes, I currently
invest in stocks
or bonds
No, but I plan to
invest in stocks
and bonds in
the future
No, and I do not
plan to invest in
them in the
future
Do you currently invest in stocks and bonds?
70% do not invest in stocks and bonds and 41% said
they do not plan on investing in the future
86%

22. 22
Those that do not currently invest their money say they
don’t have enough money to invest or don’t know
enough about the market/stocks.
Q28. Below is a list of factors that may prevent people from investing in stocks and bonds. Which of the following factors are stopping you
from investing? (Asked if they don’t invest)
Factors Preventing Investing
51%
43%
34%
21% 21%
Don’t have enough
money to invest
Don’t know enough
about the
market/stocks
Stocks are too risky Don’t trust stock
brokers/the market
Don’t want to pay
high fees

23. 23
The majority of respondents (71% total) feel negatively
about their retirement plans.
Q24. Next, thinking specifically about retirement savings…Where do you think you currently stand as far as retirement savings?
(Asked if they have not yet retired)
Q25. Approximately how much money do you have saved for retirement? [OPEN-END]
52% say they “don’t
know” how much money
they have saved for
retirement
Where do you currently stand as far as retirement savings?
34% 37% 21% 4% 4%
Too Far Behind to Catch Up Moderately behind Right on Track Ahead of Schedule Enough Saved to Retire Now
71% report being behind on
their retirement savings

24. DEBT

25. 25
Less than one-fifth of respondents do not hold any
debt, and many of them (38%) expected to have less
than they do now
18%
19%
27%
31%
32%
49%
I do not hold any debt
Student loan
Medical
Car loan
Mortgage
Credit card
Types of Debt Held
Q29. Today, do you have more or less DEBT than you thought you would be 5 years ago?
Q30. Which of the following types of debt do you hold?
38%
34%
29%
More debt than
I thought 5
years ago
Less debt than
I thought 5
years ago
Same debt that
I thought 5
years ago
Do you have more or less debt than
you thought you would 5 years ago?

26. 26
40%
29%
31%Higher
Same
Lower
The most common type of debt— credit card debt — is
primarily caused by lack of cash flow and overspending
Q33. What do you think the primary reason is for your credit card debt? (Asked if they have credit card debt)
Q34. On average, would you say that your credit card debt is higher or lower than it was last year? (Asked if they have credit card debt)
Primary Cause
of CC Debt
Average CC Debt
Compared to Last Year
5%
6%
7%
9%
10%
27%
36%
Don’t know; I’ve never
seriously addressed it
Lack of savings
Other
I don’t see having debt as a
problem
Inability to reduce monthly
bills
Overspending
Lack of cash flow
• 40% say they have higher credit card debt than they did last year

27. 27
76%
16%
8%
How many times in the past year
have you paid credit card late fees?
Q35. Approximately how many times in the past year have you had to pay credit card late fees? (Asked if they have a credit card)
Q36. How would you rate your current credit score?
1-3 times
0 times
4 or more times
28% 27% 20% 14% 7%
Excellent Good Fair Poor Bad
How would you rate your
current credit score?
Most claim they have not paid any credit card late fees in
the past year and rate their credit score as “excellent” or
“good”
5% are unsure

28. 28
Respondents believe their bill payment history has had
the biggest impact on their credit score
26%
14%
12% 11% 10%
9%
4% 3% 3%
What has the biggest
impact on your credit
score?
Q37. What factor has the biggest impact on your credit score?

29. 29
Nearly three-quarters (70%) agree that debt prevents
them from living their life to the fullest
Q32. How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements? (Asked if they hold debt; n=XX)
I need more resources to help
me pay off my debt.
I will never fully pay off
my debt.
21%
23%
12%
13%
28%
23%
15%
17%
34%
26%
36%
33%
17%
28%
37%
37%
Strongly Disagree Somewhat Disagree Somewhat Agree Strongly Agree
I am comfortable
talking about my debt.
Debt prevents me from
living life to the fullest.
How much do you agree or disagree
with the following statements?
• 73% say they need more resources to help them pay off their debt; however, only
about half (51%) say they are comfortable talking about their debt

30. COLLEGE COSTS

31. 31
53%
47%
How do you currently feel about your student
loans?
My student loans are out of
control; I am anxious about how
I will pay them off
My student loans are under
control and I am confident
that I will pay them off on
time
Q40. How do you currently feel about your student loans? (Asked if they have student loans)
Those with student loan debt are split when it comes to
their confidence about paying it off
• Nearly half (47%) say their student loans are out of control and they are anxious
about how they will pay them off

32. 32
Most believe that college is worth it, but there are
stipulations
When is college worth the
cost?
Q38. When would you say college is worth the cost?
5%
10%
11%
18%
28%
28%
34%
If you go to a very prestigious school
If you go to an in-state college
College is never worth the cost
If you choose a major associated with
high paying jobs
If you get a scholarship that pays for all or
most of tuition
If you major in a field with a lot of job
opportunities
College is always worth the cost
• While about one-third say that college is always worth the cost, 28% say that it is
only worth the cost if you major in a field with many job opportunities or if you
get a scholarship

33. 33 Q39. If you could go back in time and go to college all over again, what is the one thing you would do differently? (Asked if they went to
college)
7%
12%
15%
17%
19%
20%
21%
32%
Other
Get an internship (or get more internships)
Go to a different school
Be more involved on campus and in extra-curricular activities
Find a way to graduate with less debt
Get better grades and/or learn more in class
Build a better network of contacts
I would do nothing differently
If you could go to college all over
again, what would you do differently?
About one-fifth (19%) of those who went to college
would find a way to graduate with less debt if they
could do it over again

34. 34
Two-thirds of those with student loans regret taking
them out; they agree that student loans negatively
impact their ability to save for large purchases
16%
11%
18%
19%
29%
31%
37%
39%
Strongly Disagree Somewhat Disagree Somewhat Agree Strongly Agree
I regret taking out such
high student loans.
Q41. How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements? (Asked if they have student loans)
My student loans negatively
impact my ability to save for
large purchases.
How much do you agree or disagree
with the following statements?

35. MONEY MANAGEMENT
AMONG SPOUSES

36. 36
Although most married couples share joint accounts,
only 30% split handling financial matters evenly
Q42. Which of the following best describes how you and your spouse maintain your bank and credit accounts. My spouse and I maintain…
(Asked if they are married or living with a partner)
Q43. How do you and your spouse handle finances? (Asked if they are married or living with a partner)
How do you and your spouse
maintain your bank and credit
accounts?
3%
24%
24%
49%
Unsure
Completely separate
accounts
1 or more separate &
one or more joint
accounts
Joint account only
10%
15%
18%
27%
30%
My
spouse…
My
spouse…
I handle
all our…
I handle
most of…
We split it
evenly
How do you and your spouse
handle finances?

37. 37
Only half of married couples discuss financial matters
weekly or more . . .
Q44. Approximately how often do you and your spouse … (Asked if they are married or living with a
partner)
16%
36%
32%
16%
Daily Weekly Monthly Quarterly or
less
Talk about financial matters
Approximately how
often do you and your
spouse…
Only 52% of married couples talk
about financial matters weekly or
more

38. 38
6%
14%
16%
12%
7%
24%
21%
Daily Weekly Monthly Quarterly Annually Less
than
annually
Never
Approximately how
often do you and your
spouse…Disagree on financial matters
Q44. Approximately how often do you and your spouse … (Asked if they are married or living with a
partner)
. . . But disagreement on financial matters between
spouses is fairly rare
• Over half (52%) disagree on financial matters only annually or less

39. 39
Married respondents agree that managing finances is
difficult, but they are comfortable talking it out
I am completely comfortable
talking to my spouse about
money.
45%
28%
3%
25%
27%
10%
21%
29%
26%
9%
17%
61%
Strongly Disagree Somewhat Disagree Somewhat Agree Strongly Agree
Q46. How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements? (Asked if they are married or living with a partner)
It feels like my spouse and I
disagree about finances all the
time.
Before marriage, I never realized
how difficult managing
finances together would be.
How much do you agree or disagree
with the following statements?
• Nearly half (46%) admit that before marriage, they never realized how difficult
managing finances together would be; virtually all (86%) agree that they are
comfortable talking to their spouse about money

40. DEMOGRAPHICS

41. 41
Category Subcategory %
Gender
Female 51%
Male 49%
Age
18-24 14%
25-34 18%
35-44 17%
45-54 18%
55-64 14%
65+ 19%
Region
Northeast 18%
South 39%
West 21%
Midwest 22%
Race/Ethnicity
White 64%
African American 13%
Hispanic/Latino 15%
Asian American 5%
Other/Multi-racial 3%
Category Subcategory %
Employment Status
Employed full-time 53%
Employed part-time 20%
Self-employed full-time 7%
Self-employed part-time 6%
Retired 4%
Other 10%
Level of Education
Less than High School
Diploma 5%
High School Diploma 38%
Technical or Vocational
School 3%
Some College 18%
College Graduate (4-year
degree) 10%
Graduate or Professional
School 25%
Marital Status
Single, never married 32%
Married / Civil partnership 40%
Living together with
someone but not married 9%
Separated 2%
Divorced 12%
Widowed 4%
Demographics
Respondent Demographics
Totals may not add up to 100 due to rounding

42. APPENDIX

43. 43
Only about one-quarter of respondents (28%) grew up in
a household where finances were discussed frequently
Q1. Thinking back to when you were growing up, how often were finances discussed in your household?
10% 28% 35% 28%
Never Rarely Sometimes Frequently
Growing up, how often were finances discussed in your household?
• 38% of respondents are from households where finances were “never” or “rarely”
discussed

44. 44
32%
26%
24%
18%
11%
51%
50%
58%
73%
35%
9%
15%
10%
4%
19%
7%
10%
8%
5%
34%
Medical
Student
Loan
Credit
Card
Car Loan
Mortgag
e
Less than 1 year 1-5 years 6-10 years More than 10 years
Years Paying Off Debt
Q31. How many years have you been actively attempting to pay off each of the following types of
debt? [Asked for each type of debt they hold among those who have started paying it off]
How many years have you been actively
attempting to pay off each type of debt?

45. THANK YOU