Retirement confidence is at an all-time low, causing the COUNTRY Financial Security Index to drop to 63.7 in June.
Just 51 percent of Americans believe they'll have enough money to enjoy a comfortable retirement, a one-point drop since April and the lowest percentage since the COUNTRY Index started in February 2007. The drop also marks a consistent decline since October 2010.
"With the slow-to-recovery economy, rising food and gas prices and discussions over government entitlement programs, concern over retirement is understandable," said Keith Brannan, vice president of Financial Security Planning at COUNTRY Financial.
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Adding to the drop in financial security sentiments were a decline in Americans' ability to save, financial security in the event of a death or disability and sense of overall financial security.
- Just 45 percent of Americans were able to set aside money for savings and investments, down three points from April.
- There was a two-point drop in those who say their families would live comfortably if they died or became disabled.
- Thirty-seven percent rate their overall level of financial security positively this month, a one-point decrease.
Despite this pessimism, there was a two-point increase to 58 percent in those confident in the ability to send their children to college.
Also, for the first time ever in the four-year history of the COUNTRY Index, women are more confident than men in nearly all aspects of their financial security.
- Fifty-three percent of women say they are confident they will be able to enjoy a comfortable retirement. That is four points higher than men.
- Seventy-eight percent of women are confident in their ability to pay debts as they come due. Just 75 percent of men say the same.
"When it comes to finances, men and women exhibit different attitudes and levels of risk tolerance. The sharper the divisions, the more important it is for couples to collaborate on their finances," adds Brannan. "Despite differences, both men and women need to put equal focus on planning for their short- and long-term financial goals to achieve financial security."
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