Americans Happy With Financial Security Outlook: Country Financial Survey

“For three years, we’ve seen signs of a holiday financial hangover through a decrease in the Country Index," Keith Brannan, vice president of Financial Security Planning at Country Financial, said is a statement. “Americans appear to be bucking this trend, perhaps because people spent within their means in late 2010. It’s encouraging that Americans are feeling more optimistic and short-term sentiments have improved. Yet, it’s important to remember that financial security is also about the long-term and planning for the future.”

Long-term confidence still uncertain

Despite recent increases in short-term confidence, pessimism still persists in regards to long-term financial security.

• Those confident in their ability to send their children to college dropped four points to 55%.
• Americans who say they will have enough money to enjoy a comfortable retirement dipped one point to 54%.

Women’s short-term optimism increases; men more pessimistic

• Women who rate their overall financial security positively (41%) jumped five points. Men, on the other hand, dropped one point to 41%.
• Forty-six percent of women say they were able to save this month, up 8% from December. Men saying the same dipped two points to 48%.