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Overview

The COUNTRY Financial Security Index^® is a bi-monthly measure of Americans’ sentiments towards their overall financial security. Based on a national telephone survey of 3,000 Americans, the Index tracks how secure Americans feel about their own financial situation in relation to their stage in life. Survey questions range from taking care of short-term needs and protecting current assets to planning for the future.

Launched in February 2007, the survey provides an accurate snapshot of Americans’ financial security situation nation-wide and also delves deeper into five local markets, including Minneapolis/St. Paul, St. Louis, Denver, Phoenix and Chicago. Survey respondents are asked the following questions:

1. Generally speaking, how do you rate your overall level of financial security?
2. Over the past two months, have you set aside any money for savings or investments?
3. When it comes time to retire, how likely is it that you will have enough money to enjoy a comfortable retirement?
4. When the time for college arrives, how confident are you that you will have enough financial resources to send your children to college?
5. If you died or were disabled today, how confident are you that your family would be able to live comfortably?
6. How confident are you that your house, car and possessions are adequately insured if they are badly damaged or destroyed?
7. Think for a moment about all the money you owe to others including mortgages, car loans, credit cards, and other debt. How confident are you in your ability to pay all of these debts as they come due?

Financial security means different things to different people at different stages of their lives. The COUNTRY Index takes into account several stages in the human life cycle, including people entering the workforce, those with children living at home and retired Americans.

In a day and age of nearly negative national savings rate, dwindling Social Security, and increasing education and healthcare costs there is a greater need for Americans to take control of their pocket books and plan for their future. The COUNTRY Index is an indicator for Americans to take stock of their situations and strive to achieve financial security.