Countless studies have reaffirmed the fact that Americans are lagging when it comes to retirement planning. When compared to the rest of the world, however, American workers are downright diligent about planning.
   That is the conclusion of a recent global survey that found American workers, on average, are far ahead of their international counterparts when it comes to getting ready for their golden years.
   The annual survey by AXA Group, the owner of a number of life insurance subsidiaries that serve the international market, found that the average American worker starts saving at age 30 and puts away $1,253 monthly. That's more than double the monthly retirement savings of all other nations surveyed.
   The survey also found that nearly 85% of American workers have started planning for retirement, which also exceeds the averages of other countries.
   The survey took information from 6,915 people between the ages of 25 and 75 in the United States, Europe, Australia, Canada, Japan and Hong Kong. The survey included responses from 848 U.S. citizens.
   Among the other findings, the survey found that 64% of working Americans expect to spend their savings in retirement, compared to only about 33% who expect to pass excess savings onto surviving family members. France, meanwhile, was the only nation in which more than half of workers said they plan to pass on some of their retirement savings.