Fee-based financial advisors provide broad-strokes sentiment, general views. Financial advisors are feeling antsy about geopolitical instability, but they're generally optimistic about the U.S. economy and markets, according to the inaugural "Brinker Barometer," a quarterly survey sponsored by Brinker Capital, a third-party retail investment-platform provider.

"The Barometer's results show that the financial advisors we polled, regardless of the channel in which they operate, are generally feeling good about the economy and the markets, despite first quarter volatility and the Federal Reserve 's inflationary concerns," says Brinker's president John Coyne.

More confident

Brinker polled 176 financial advisors affiliated with insurance companies and independent broker-dealers, as well as those in sole practice for its Brinker Barometer survey. The study gauges financial advisor sentiment about matters such as the economy, retirement savings, investing and market performance.

The survey shows that 72% of advisors are either "highly confident" or "somewhat confident" in their economic outlook. Another 64% said they're similarly confident about the market. Insurance-company affiliated advisors are generally more confident than other advisors.

Advisors say that geopolitical developments and stock-market volatility are their two biggest worries, with recession coming in third for insurance-company affiliated advisors and oil prices for the independents.

Across the board, advisors say that individual stocks and bonds were fast losing favor. Independent advisors looked, in order of preference, to most to alternative investments, exchange-traded funds and equity mutual funds. Insurance advisors also preferred alternatives above all else, but they like mutual funds more than exchange-traded funds.

Advisors point to procrastination, debt, extravagance, college expenses, and lack of knowledge and concern as the main things keeping clients from saving enough for retirement.

Berwyn, Pa.-based Brinker Capital had around $8 billion in assets under management at the end of March 2007. -FWR

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