I THINK I'M TURNING JAPANESE....:

Financially, We're All Conservatives Now (Philip Moeller, June 16, 2010, US News)

Northwestern Mutual highlighted six "resounding" financial realities that emerged from its study:

1) Squeezing dollars is the new norm. Three-fourths of Americans favor investments that are safe, steady, and secure, and which are geared to their long-term needs. Investment guarantees and lower risk were also favored by large majorities. [...]

3) The tortoise will win the race, not the hare. Among people who do have financial plans for the future (that includes you, right?), 75 percent have extended the time frames for realizing their financial goals, and more than 80 percent of those 35 and older have done so. [...]

5) Even young people get it. Younger people have shifted toward saving more to a greater degree than people nearing retirement. Of course, part of the reason for this may be that they feel they have no choice, as the older generation will plow through Social Security reserves and leave nothing behind.

6) Women are more conservative then men. By margins of 10 to 15 percentage points depending on the question, women seek more safety and security from investments, as well as guaranteed returns and lower risk.