Factors associated with seeking and using professional retirement-planning help

This article presents findings from a study that examined the factors that influence who is more likely to seek and use help with their retirement questions and concerns from professional advisors or others, including friends, colleagues, and publications. A model of retirement help-seeking behavior is presented. Logistic regression results using data from the 1998 Retirement Confidence Survey (N = 711) showed that among preretirees, women versus men, those who (a) had higher incomes, (b) exhibited better financial behaviors, (c) had positive and proactive attitudes toward retirement, and (d) had a higher level of financial risk-tolerance were more likely to seek and use help from financial professionals when making retirement investment decisions.