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Changing financial advisors during an advisor-intermediated stock-market game was more likely during periods of relative under performance. Immediately prior to changing advisors, brain activation was greater in areas associated with error detection (dorsal anterior cingulate cortex) and number comparisons (inferior parietal and middle frontal gyri). This combination of activations was analogous to those associated with choosing to stop chasing losses in a gambling task. Advisors may consider using heuristics from gambling research and investment practice that re-characterize loss experiences as something other than errors. During non-switching "quiet" periods, subjects were more likely to be focusing on the images of advisors, reflected by activation in face-specific visual regions. These results may support client-retention strategies emphasizing personal connections rather than pure numerical performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to gain an understanding of Accredited Financial Counselors' characteristics and professional activities, an online survey of Accredited Financial Counselors was conducted from December, 2002 to February, 2003. This paper describes the sociodemographic characteristics of Accredited Financial Counselors, reports the non-AFC financial counseling designations held by Accredited Financial Counselors, and provides a sketch of the contexts in which AFC designees are employed, including the type of employer, the number of counseling sessions typically conducted each week, and the average cost of counseling sessions. Suggestions for the growth and development of the financial counseling profession are offered [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]