At least, that is what a recent Merrill Lynch survey (September 13 –October 7) found. Affluent Americans — those with more than $250,000 in investable assets — are feeling more confident about their finances than they did a year ago:

• 41% of affluent Americans feel financially better off today than they did one year ago;

• More than three out of four (78%) are confident that their financial picture will improve in the year ahead.

• 61% expect to retire later than originally planned, an increase from 29% in January 2010

During the last year, one in five (20%) affluent Americans indicated having to tap into their long-term savings/investments to meet short-term needs:

-35% Cover regular monthly expenses

-27% Pay off excess debt

-19% Compensate for a loss in income within the family

Top financial concerns continue to be the rising costs of health care and whether retirement assets will last throughout their lifetime; while concern about caring for aging parents is also on the rise:

-Rising Health Care Costs and Expenses

-Ensuring Retirement Assets Will Last Throughout Their Lifetime

-Being Able to Afford the Lifestyle They Want in Retirement

-Impact of the Economy on Their Ability to Meet Financial Goals

-Current State of the Real Estate Market

-Caring for an Aging Parent

Younger affluent individuals age 18 –34 (mean age 31) are more concerned than other segments of the affluent population about many financial issues:

Source: Phone survey conducted by Braun Research from September 13 –October 7