Nearly three in four Americans (73%) say they are not more inclined to invest in the stock market now, according to new research from Bankrate.com. Despite low interest rates on cash and fixed income, record highs in the stock market and market returns exceeding 30% in 2013, individual investors are still not warming to the stock market.

This is true across all age groups and income levels. The findings are consistent with Bankrate.com's survey results from April 2012 and April 2013. In both of those polls, 76% of Americans said they were not more inclined to invest in stocks.

"Americans may be avoiding the buy-high, sell-low habit seen in previous market cycles, but only because they're not buying at all," said Greg McBride, CFA, Bankrate.com's chief financial analyst. "An overly conservative investment stance compounds the problem that so many Americans have of not saving enough for longer-range goals like retirement."

Bankrate.com also announced that its Financial Security Index slipped from 102.2 in March to 100.5 in April. But as in four of the past five months, the Index still indicates improvement over one year ago. Any value above 100 indicates improved financial security compared to one year ago. Three of the five categories (job security, net worth and overall financial situation) all show consistent improvement relative to one year ago. Savings has reflected deterioration every month since polling began in December 2010.

Americans' comfort level with their debt swung from improvement to deterioration compared to one year ago for just the second time in seven months. While this feeling is evident among all age groups, the results among income groups are mixed. Households with annual income above $75,000 and between $30,000 and $49,999 feel more comfortable with this year's debt burden than last year's. Households with annual income between $50,000 and $74,999 and those under$30,000 feel less comfortable with their debt now. Compared to last month's poll, households with income between$50,000 and $74,999 experienced a significant decline in their comfort level with debt.

The survey was conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International and can be seen in its entirety here: http://www.bankrate.com/finance/consumer-index/financial-security-charts-0414.aspx