|
Local MSAs in top 100 on saving/investing survey |
|
Page 1 of 2  Southwest Florida residents from Bradenton to Naples practice excellent personal savings and investing behavior, according to the inaugural "Nest Egg Index" released Tuesday by the financial services firm that began the $20-million nest-egg ad campaign in April of this year.
The firm weighed a dozen statistical factors -- including participation in retirement savings plans, personal debt levels and home ownership -- and ranked America's 200 top-performing communities. Punta Gorda, Sarasota, Fort Myers and Naples all were among the top 75.
Charlotte County SunTrust Bank President Steven Vito wasn't surprised. He said savings in the Charlotte County area has grown 12 to 15 percent this year, after a slight slump last year due to Hurricane Charley.
Have you seen the A.G. Edwards television commercials in which everyday folks are toting around "nest eggs" of various sizes? Well, the nest eggs people carry around here are bigger than most.
Southwest Florida residents from Bradenton to Naples practice excellent personal savings and investing behavior, according to the inaugural "Nest Egg Index" released Tuesday by the financial services firm that began the $20-million nest-egg ad campaign in April of this year.
The firm weighed a dozen statistical factors -- including participation in retirement savings plans, personal debt levels and home ownership -- and ranked America's 200 top-performing communities. Punta Gorda, Sarasota, Fort Myers and Naples all were among the top 75.
Charlotte County SunTrust Bank President Steven Vito wasn't surprised. He said savings in the Charlotte County area has grown 12 to 15 percent this year, after a slight slump last year due to Hurricane Charley.
"Average household wealth here is among the highest in Southwest Florida," he said, adding that the region as a whole possesses "the most significant growth opportunity" in the SunTrust domain, which includes the entire Atlantic Seaboard. He said Southwest Florida ranks "at the top of every category" the bank uses to measure financial success.
The A.G. Edwards index ranked communities based on Metropolitan Service Areas as determined by the U.S. Department of Labor. The Punta Gorda MSA includes all of Charlotte County, the Sarasota-Bradenton MSA includes Sarasota and Manatee counties, the Fort Myers-Cape Coral MSA includes all of Lee County, and the Naples MSA includes all of Collier County.
Naples was the top-ranked Florida MSA on the survey and ranked 18th among the 200 MSAs listed, with an index of 113.92. The national average was 100.00 and the state average was 97.04.
Sarasota-Bradenton was second among Florida MSAs and 68th nationally, with an index of 106.25. Punta Gorda ranked third in Florida and 71st nationally, with an index of 105.91, while Fort Myers-Cape Coral was fourth in Florida and 74th nationally, with an index of 105.56.
|