The 2009 Canadian Securities Administrators Investor Index is out. The full report is available online as a pdf file.

Some interesting highlights.

Most Canadians (85 per cent) believe that it is important to build their personal savings and investments. However, one-in-three (35 per cent) do not have any savings or investments. Six-in-ten (60 per cent) Canadians worry that they do not have enough savings to meet their financial needs.

Only one-in-four (25 per cent) Canadians have a formal written financial plan that includes clear investment goals, despite the fact that two-thirds (64 per cent) agree that having one is important.

A majority of parents (78 per cent) agree that teaching children financial skills is among the most important things a parent can do for their child. Yet, only 46 per cent of Canadian parents have taught their children about finances and investing.