2012 CAQ Investor Confidence Forum: What is Driving Investor Confidence? (Part 2)

2012 CAQ Investor Confidence Forum: What is Driving Investor Confidence?

On September 19th, the Center for Audit Quality hosted a breakfast discussion on the state of investor confidence as part of the release of its 6th annual Main Street Investor Survey.

Generations of American investors have looked to the stock market for their financial security. Even in today's political and economic landscape -- stock market volatility, continued levels of unemployment, nascent recovery of the real estate market, the upcoming election, and the debt crises abroad -- investors are indicating that they have confidence in U.S. capital markets. What is driving investor confidence? Are investors over-confident?

Moderated by Ben White, Wall Street Correspondent for Politico, the CAQ's 2012 Investor Confidence Forum examined the most recent Main Street Investor Survey results in light of the current political and economic landscape.

The panel featured experts on investor beliefs and behaviors:
Douglas Elliott, Fellow of Economic Studies at the Brookings Institution
Cindy Fornelli, Executive Director, Center for Audit Quality
David Gardner, Motley Fool Co-founder and Chief Rule Breaker
Gail MarksJarvis, Syndicated Financial Columnist for the Chicago Tribune and author of Saving for Retirement (Without Living Like a Pauper or Winning the Lottery)
Dr. John Nofsinger, Finance Professor at Washington State University and author of The Psychology of Investing