Saving for retirement continues to be the most pressing concern for investors over choosing stocks or managing their cash, according to a Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards survey.

Nearly two-thirds of the 1,002 respondents (65%) said they are more concerned about finances than they were when the economic crisis began. Still, 66% believed that the American economy will hold steady or improve over the next six months, and 83% expect their own personal finances to do the same.

When asked to describe the economy as an animal, most said "slow, lumbering animals like sloths, bears, turtles, and elephant." Few choose the iconic symbol of confidence, the bull, according to the CFP survey released July 12. In describing their own personal finances, while respondents no longer said they are alarmed or panicked, they also shied away from saying they are confident or secure. The number one description was cautious. Twenty-eight percent said they currently use a financial planner or adviser, roughly the same number as before the collapse of Lehman Brothers and the bailout of AIG nearly two years ago.