Investor optimism

• 54%: Percentage of people who report feeling wealthier in 2008, down from 81 percent in 2007.
• 25%: Percentage of people who are optimistic about their financial futures.
• 58%: Percentage of people who think the U.S. economy is in a downturn and will get worse.
• 62%: Percentage of people who say less than 100 percent of their current income will provide a comfortable retirement.
• 40%: Percentage of high-net-worth individuals who worry they will outlive their savings, compared with 36 percent last year.
• 50%: Percentage of people who worry about the effects of inflation on their nest egg.
• 39%: Percentage of people who fear poor investment performance will diminish their assets.
• 50%: Percentage of people who say they rarely seek professional advice to make major financial decisions; 41 percent say they currently do not have a primary financial advisor.
• 49%: Percentage of people who feel real estate is a safer investment than the stock market.
• 22%: Percentage of high-net-worth individuals who have put off any kind of estate planning.

Source: Phoenix Companies Inc.