Canadian investors face gender gap

Investment advisors help bridge the confidence gap between men and women

TORONTO, Oct. 27 /CNW/ - If women want more satisfaction, confidence and optimism in their investments, they need some good advice, indicates a new survey released today by Franklin Templeton Investments.

Women are less likely to hold investments and have less confidence in meeting their financial goals than men, reveals a Leger Marketing survey of Canadian investors conducted for Franklin Templeton Investments Corp. Men are seven per cent more likely to hold investments than women and six per cent more confident in their financial plans, the survey found.

Only 65 per cent of women surveyed were satisfied with their investment knowledge compared to 77 per cent of men. Women have a more negative perspective as well. Twenty-six per cent have a pessimistic outlook for their investments versus 18 per cent of men.

An investment advisor closes the gap. Women investors that work with an advisor are 14 per cent more satisfied with their knowledge, 15 per cent more optimistic and 16 per cent more confident in their financial plans when compared to women that invest without the benefit of advice, the survey found.

"Working with an investment advisor is critical if women want to face their financial future with confidence," said Jennifer Ball, senior vice president of marketing, Franklin Templeton Investments Corp. "An advisor can empower women investors and provide guidance through unpredictable times, from life events to market volatility."

Franklin Templeton is committed to helping women take control of their investments by connecting and working with a trusted advisor. The company is a proud platinum sponsor of the 2010 Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Summit and Awards Gala presented by the Women's Executive Network (WXN). The awards, honouring powerful female leaders in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors, will be presented November 29 in Toronto.

About the survey

Between October 12 and 15, 2010, Leger Marketing conducted an online survey in which 902 Canadian adults answered questions about their investment attitudes and behaviour. All were screened to qualify as currently having some investments. A probability sample of the same size of 902 would yield a margin of error of ±3.3%.

About Franklin Templeton Investments

Franklin Templeton Investments Corp. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE: BEN), a global investment organization operating as Franklin Templeton Investments. Franklin Templeton Investments provides global and domestic investment management solutions managed by its Franklin, Templeton, Bissett, Mutual Series, Fiduciary Trust and Darby investment teams. The San Mateo, CA-based company has more than 60 years of investment experience and more than US$644 billion (C$663 billion) in assets under management as of September 30, 2010.

Franklin Templeton Investments Corp. has more than 600 employees providing services to more than one million unitholder accounts and more than 200 pension funds, foundations and other institutional investors. Additional information on Franklin Templeton Investments Corp. can be found at www.franklintempleton.ca.

For further information:

Media contacts:

Debra Chan, Senior Consultant, Argyle Communications, 416.968.7311 X229

Sarah Kingdon, Consultant, Public Relations, Franklin Templeton Investments, 416.957.6191

Keith Damsell, Director, Corporate Communications, Franklin Templeton Investments, 416.957.6099