For U.S. Olympians, Does Athletic Discipline Translate to Fiscal Discipline?

TD Ameritrade, official sponsor of Team USA, announces results of a new survey of U.S. Olympic athletes

OMAHA, Neb.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- U.S. Olympic athletes are trained to go for the gold. And, as it turns out, their winning attitude transcends sports, impacting their financial habits as well, according to a new survey of U.S. Olympic athletes released by TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation (NYSE: AMTD), official online brokerage sponsor of Team USA.

Sixty-five percent of U.S. Olympians surveyed believe that their discipline as an Olympic athlete has helped them be more disciplined with managing their money. If they were to win the lottery only three percent of U.S. Olympians would use the money to indulge. Forty-two percent would save or invest it, 32 percent would pay back loans, and 18 percent would give it away to a charity or friends and family.

And, when U.S. Olympians have a goal in mind — whether athletic or financial in nature — they expect nothing less than success. Of those U.S. Olympians who have a financial plan, a staggering 99 percent said they were "confident" that they would reach their goals. In fact, 66 percent of them said they were "highly confident" in their success. This compares to 54 percent of average Americans who said they were "confident", and only 22 percent who were "highly confident".¹

"Goal setting, belief in your ability to accomplish your goals, and a systematic, step-by-step plan to reach those goals are inherent parts of being successful, really in anything you do. In my case, that's fencing, but I employ the same strategy in many other aspects of my life, including my finances," said U.S. Olympic fencer Mariel Zagunis, a TD Ameritrade sponsored athlete.

This optimistic outlook on their financial futures errs more on the confident side than the average American, but that doesn't mean U.S. Olympians surveyed wouldn't do anything differently if given the chance to do so. Lingering effects of the Great Recession weigh on these athletes just as they do the rest of us. When asked if they could go back in time before the recession began and do anything differently, 64 percent said they would have saved more overall, and half of U.S. Olympians said they would have taken more responsibility for managing their money. The one thing they wouldn't change — for most — was training. Just 9 percent said they would have spent less on athletic training.

As a proud sponsor of the United States Olympic Committee and the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team, TD Ameritrade encourages Americans to join in its support of Team USA. One way to do so is by making a donation to the U.S. Olympic Committee, which goes towards funding America's athletes. To learn more, visit here.

Athletes and investors alike can visit http://www.tdameritrade.com for straightforward online brokerage guidance and independent, objective research, to the latest online investing tools and investor education.

AMTD-G

Survey Methodology
254 U.S. Olympic athletes participated in an online survey between March 8-April 4, 2012. Questionnaire design was provided by TD Ameritrade, programming and data collection was handled by Maritz, Inc., and statistical analysis and reporting by Head Research. Sample was provided to TD Ameritrade from the United States Olympic Committee in the form of email addresses. Potential respondents were screened in the survey to determine "competing" or "non-competing" status, but no one was screened out. The statistical margin of error for overall results from this study is approximately +/- 5%², however, this number could be slightly smaller since the number of U.S. Olympic athletes is ‘finite' and error ranges around finite populations differ from the general population. This means that, in 19 out of 20 cases, survey results for each group will differ by no more than 5% in either direction from what would have been obtained by the opinions of all U.S. Olympic athletes.

About TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation
Millions of investors and independent registered investment advisors (RIAs) have turned to TD Ameritrade's (NYSE: AMTD) technology, people and education to help make investing and trading easier to understand and do. Online or over the phone. In a branch or with an independent RIA. First-timer or sophisticated trader. Our clients want to take control, and we help them decide how — bringing Wall Street to Main Street for more than 36 years. An official sponsor of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team, TD Ameritrade has time and again been recognized as a leader in investment services. Please visit TD Ameritrade's newsroom or www.amtd.com for more information. Brokerage services provided by TD Ameritrade, Inc., member FINRA (www.FINRA.org) SIPC (www.SIPC.org) /NFA (www.nfa.futures.org).

About the USOC
The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) is recognized by the International Olympic Committee as the sole entity in the United States whose mission involves training, entering and underwriting the full expenses for the U.S. teams in the Olympic, Paralympic, Pan American and Parapan American Games. In addition to being the steward of the U.S. Olympic Movement, the USOC is the moving force for support of sports in the United States that are on the program of the Olympic, Paralympic, Pan American and Parapan American Games. For more information, visit www.TeamUSA.org.

About Maritz
St. Louis-based Maritz is a sales and marketing services company, which helps companies achieve their full potential through understanding, enabling, and motivating employees, channel partners, and customers. Maritz provides market and customer research, communications, learning solutions, incentive initiatives, rewards and recognition, effective meeting, event and incentive travel management services, and customer loyalty programs. For more information, visit www.maritz.com or contact us at 1-877-4MARITZ.

About Head Research
Head Research is a division of Head Solutions Group (U.S.) Inc., a leading market research partner for Financial Services companies in North America. With offices in New York, Toronto, and Montreal, Head delivers the deep customer insights that increase institutional knowledge and propel business action.

TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation is a sponsor of the U.S. Olympic Committee and the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team. TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation is separate from and not affiliated with these entities. Head Research Solutions Group (U.S.) Inc., Maritz, Inc. and TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation are separate, unaffiliated companies and are not responsible for each other's products and services

¹ Retirement Reformation Survey, Head Research on behalf of TD Ameritrade, March 2012.
² Assumes responders are the same as non-responders and that panelists are the same as non-panelists

TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation
For Media:
Christina Goethe, 201-369-8541
Communications & Public Affairs
christina.goethe@tdameritrade.com
@TDAmeritradePR
or
For Investors:
Jeff Goeser, 402-597-8464
Investor Relations & Finance
jeffrey.goeser@tdameritrade.com

Source: TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation

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