Role Conflict, Role Ambiguity, Job Satisfaction, and Burnout among Financial Advisors

Abstract

Financial advisors have begun to take on a more "counselor-type" role from the traditional broker. Therefore, they have become more susceptible to role stressors (role ambiguity and role conflict) and decreased job satisfaction that could lead to burnout. The purpose of this study is to examine and measure demographics of financial advisors, levels of role conflict and role ambiguity, as well as job satisfaction and burnout to determine the relationships between these variables. The theoretical framework includes Maslach's Burnout Inventory (1981), Herzberg's Motivation-Hygiene Theory (1959), and role theory (Katz and Kahn, 1966, 1978). The corresponding measurement tools used to collect data will be Maslach's General Survey (1996), the abridged Job Descriptive Index and the Job in General scale developed by Smith, Kendall and Hulin (1969), as well as Rizzo, House, and Lirtzman's (1970) measures of role conflict and role ambiguity. The objective of the study is to extend current literature by testing a "new" target population of professionals and determine the significance between demographics, role conflict, role ambiguity, job satisfaction, and burnout among financial advisors. Results may help financial employers identify areas of role stress and job dissatisfaction to help reduce burnout and address employee-related issues such as turnover, absenteeism, and employee health. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]