Americans in Need of Some Good Financial Advice: Survey

At the same time, a third of respondents said they expected their finances to remain a source of stress in the future, and two in five worried that they would not enjoy their later years because of money issues.

Financial Planners There to Help

The survey findings also showed that more than half of respondents had not considered their options for retiring, and one in three did not think they would ever be able to retire.

Nevertheless, around a third of Americans still associated the idea of retirement with the words "dream," "joy" and "reality."

NAPFA said that having a financial plan with specific goals can make a big difference in how consumers spend their time now and in the future.

According to the survey, 37% of participants believed that working with a financial planner would make them feel secure. Twenty-eight percent said doing so would make them feel empowered, and 26% said it would excite them.

"The right guidance and professional advice can help make financial planning feel approachable," Brown said. "With 54% of Americans not knowing where to look for a financial planner, it is our job to make it easy for them."

NAPFA noted in its statement that fee-only financial planners work with clients on goal setting, cash management, tax planning, investing, estate planning, insurance needs, education funding and retirement planning.