CPA financial planners: retirement savings key concern for Americans.

Having enough money to retire and pay for major life needs--healthcare and education--are top concerns of Americans facing financial pressures, according to CPA financial planners surveyed by the AICPA. Respondents to the survey, taken in Dec. 2007, included CPAs who hold the AICPA's Personal Financial Specialist credential.

In responding to an open-ended question, 9 out of 10 CPAs surveyed said their individual clients were concerned about retirement. Costs associated with health care and education were ranked by respondents as the second (59%) and third (47%) financial concerns of clients.

Notably, nearly 32% of respondents reported that clients approaching retirement age are postponing leaving the workforce for financial reasons. In addition, as many as one-third of CPAs with clients 25 to 34 years old are seeing individuals foregoing buying a home, having children and...