Just about half of consumers say building a retirement fund is one of their most important financial concerns, a new survey finds, yet the majority do not have a written financial plan in place.

With the stock market and investments sagging over the last year, the results of the 2009 National Consumer Survey on Personal Finance, released by Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards offer a new picture on people’s financial planning, including demographic information on who seeks financial planning assistance and why.

The survey of 1,742 consumers shows that 51% of the respondents listed building a retirement fund as one of their most important financial concerns. Managing retirement income was cited in 40% of the responses. Other top pressing issues for consumers were generating current income (59%), providing health insurance coverage (55%), and managing or reducing current debt (53%).

Although concerned about their personal finances, 64% said they did not have a written financial plan in place. Only 17% indicated that they have a written plan in place and update the plan regularly.

Those consumers who do have a written financial plan in place feel strongly about the benefits of having a plan. Among those consumers who have developed a plan without the assistance of a financial professional, 48% said they benefited from the written plan. The recognized benefits of having a plan increases significantly for consumers who used the services of a financial adviser to develop a plan, with 65% of those individuals saying a written plan is beneficial.

“Clearly, those consumers who have a financial plan in place have a higher degree of confidence that their finances are in order,” said Kevin R. Keller, CEO of the CFP Board, in a statement. “These people believe that the intervention of a financial planner positively influences their ability to achieve their financial goals.”

What motivated consumers to seek a financial service professional’s help varied with education level.

For example, among households that have a written financial plan in place, 17% of individuals whose formal education ended before or during high school cited the need for retirement planning. Of those who attended, but did not complete, college, 22% cited retirement planning. Of those who completed college, 61% cited retirement goals.

The goals that motivated consumers to seek professional assistance also varied by the respondents’ income level. Savings was the most frequently cited financial planning need among those making $50,000 or less a year (24%). Among those earning $50,000 to $100,000 a year, retirement planning was cited by 48% of the respondents, and savings goals was cited by 47%.

“These results tell us that Americans of every type of background and income level think carefully about their assets and how to improve their financial state,” said Eleanor Blayney, consumer advocate for the CFP Board. “We also see that many lack an understanding that everyone can benefit from having a financial plan, regardless of one’s wealth or social status.”

Respondents who did not have a written financial plan cited a number of reasons for not preparing one, including: their finances were not that complicated, expense of engaging a financial professional, do their own financial planning on an informal basis, they get along fine without a financial plan, and confusion over the qualifications of financial intermediaries. Forty percent indicated they were not aware of any credential for financial professionals.

Those people who used a financial professional when developing their written financial plan put a premium on ethics (89%) and practice standards (87%), as well as enforcement of those standards (80%). All survey respondents had high recognition of those financial intermediaries who hold credentials representing high ethical and practice standards that are actively enforced. Respondents had the greatest awareness of those identified as Certified Public Accountants. CFP certification had the next greatest level of awareness, at 28%.