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Despite student loan debt, a slow job market and the many other challenges facing their generation, Americans between the ages of 18 and 29 have an optimistic outlook on their financial future. Things look significantly gloomier to older Americans, however.

Gallup's Economy and Personal Finance survey found that 48 percent of young adults between the ages of 18 and 29 describe their current financial situation as "excellent" or "good," while 73 percent describe it as "getting better." When it comes to those age 65 and older, the same amount (48 percent) say their current situation is good or excellent -- but just 23 percent say it's getting better. 

Other groups the survey found to be particularly optimistic about their financial future included men, college grads, democrats, blacks and Hispanics. This year's version of Gallup's annual survey was released April 29, 2013.