Kerry Nelson (pictured right), managing director at Nexus IFA
"I think the woes we are in are perhaps starting to hit home a little more. When something dramatic happens in the financial world the average person is sheltered from it initially.""Now the job market has slowed down and people are uncertain about redundancy or if they will get a pay rise. It is all over the media and the reality is setting in. Some investors are being quite cautious but with cash savings so poor, many are looking further afield for their investments."
"Most people who have got the cash still want a diversified portfolio because, with interest rates so low, they are willing to accept the risk to get a better return on their savings. Also, because of what has happened, most people are nervous about the banking system."
"There needs to be more interaction between the investor and advisor in this tough environment because things are changing all the time. There is so much uncertainty and it is always better to do something than bury your head."
Chris Spear (pictured below left), managing director at Spear Financial
"Things have probably gone a little bit quiet recently. There is a focus on income again. Clients want to know about the arguments for and against equity income or global income funds.""I’ve been reading recently about 'hippo markets'. They spend a lot of time wallowing around while investors bob their heads in and out of the water. They get overly bullish at the top of the market and overly bearish at the bottom. That is what is happening now."
"We all like to invest with our emotions. We pile into the market when things are going well but when we, and the markets, are depressed you don’t invest. What really needs to happen is for that to turn around. When the market seems to be doing badly it is probably a good time to invest."
Philippa Gee (pictured right), managing director of Philippa Gee Wealth Management
"As long as there are low-risk assets receiving low returns, investors will be pushed towards higher-risk investments. I’m not seeing a massive change in sentiment at the moment but sooner or later investors will need to think about moving into higher-risk assets."
"The volatility in the markets is extraordinary at the moment and it is not a case of expecting a quick fix, but inevitably the strength will return. It may take a while but confidence will return."
Graham Toone (pictured below left), head of research at AFH Wealth Management
"You can tell from where the markets are at the moment that there has definitely been a change in sentiment.""There are some major banana skins out there right now especially with quantitative easing coming to an end at the end of the month."
"It is a bit of a poker game at the moment with investors waiting for the patient to recover before withdrawing the medicine."