Few Americans consider protecting or insuring their homes as their top financial concern, according to a new survey.

The telephone survey by Illinois-based insurer Country Financial reveals that although nearly half of respondents (46 percent) say the majority of their net worth is represented by the equity in their home, just 2 percent say having the right level of insurance protection is their biggest financial priority.

When asked to choose their biggest financial priority, having enough money to pay bills (53 percent) and saving for a secure retirement (17 percent) are the top choices. Having adequate health insurance (4 percent) and saving for a child’s education (3 percent) both ranked higher than having the right level of insurance protection on assets.

"Property insurance is not a glamorous topic, however it’s an important financial issue, especially given the amount of equity many say they have in their homes," said Keith Brannan, vice president of Financial Security Planning for Country Financial. "When it comes to financial security, protecting what you own today – your home, car and other possessions – is just as important to achieving financial security as saving for the future or paying bills every month."

However, the idea of protecting their assets is not lost on all Americans. When given the option to choose both, 58 percent say making sure your property is insured and saving money for future financial needs are equally important.