Catherine S. McBreen is managing director of Spectrem Group, a strategic consulting firm specializing in the affluent and retirement markets.

In a new report, "Affluent Household Financial Decision-Making," Spectrem finds that affluent men and women do not see eye-to-eye on just who makes the family's financial decisions.

Spectrem reports that while 56% of affluent men say husbands make these decisions, just 20% of women agree. Meanwhile, the majority of affluent women (61%) say financial decision-making is a joint effort. McBreen discusses these findings in detail during the interview.

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Catherine S. McBreen is managing director of Spectrem Group, a strategic consulting firm specializing in the affluent and retirement markets.

In a new report, "Lifestyles of the Rich," Spectrem has found that the ultra-wealthy are a lot more like ordinary folks than we might imagine.

Examining those with a net worth of $5 million or more, not including primary residence, Spectrem tells us that the rich generally: have a very high savings and investment rate, attribute their wealth to "hard work," and spend their leisure time traveling, reading, golfing, exercising and gardening. McBreen discusses these findings in detail during her interview.

Catherine S. McBreen is managing director of Spectrem Group, a strategic consulting firm specializing in the affluent and retirement markets.

Spectrem recently released a study titled "Affluent Women." The study found that seminars, newsletters and website features offered to affluent women by their financial advisors have not been well-received. Seminars, for example, were rated as poor by 35% of the affluent women surveyed.

McBreen discusses these findings in detail during her interview, as well as talking broadly about the needs and preferences of affluent women.

For more information on podcasts seen on this site, please contact the company or individuals interviewed. See disclaimer here.

George H. Walper, Jr. is president of Spectrem Group, a strategic consulting firm specializing in the affluent and retirement markets. 

Spectrem recently released a report titled "Brand Loyalty vs Advisor Loyalty: How to Change the Loyalty of Affluent Investors."  It found that 55% of affluent investors would follow their advisors if they were to leave and join a new firm.  That number is as high as 71% when the advisor is a financial planner.

In his interview, Walper discusses these findings along with other conclusions the report draws about affluent investors and advisor loyalty.

For more information on podcasts seen on this site, please contact the company or individuals interviewed.  See disclaimer here.

George H. Walper, Jr. is president of Spectrem Group, a strategic consulting firm specializing in the affluent and retirement markets. 

The firm recently released a report titled "2005 Mass Affluent Investor," which found that mass affluent investors -- those with $100,000 to $1 million of investable assets -- have a high level of exposure to real estate.  With 37% of their total assets tied up in real estate, this group appears at significant risk should the housing bubble burst.

In his interview, Walper discusses this finding along with other observations about mass affluent investors.