America's affluent investors are considerably more optimistic than they have been in recent years about the U.S. economy and their own prospects, according to a survey by PNC Wealth Management.

At the same time, they are still worried about the global marketplace, according to the 7th annual Wealth and Values Survey Investors' Outlook by PNC, which is among the nation's top 10 bank-owned wealth management firms.

More than half of the respondents (52 percent) say their net worth has grown at least 20 percent since 2007 and 73 percent believe they have "a lot of control over their financial future."

The survey was based on responses from 1,115 people with $500,000 or more in investable assets.

Optimism about a U.S. economic recovery is on the rise with 28 percent of respondents now saying they are optimistic compared to just 10 percent a year ago. Currently, 51 percent are pessimistic compared to 76 percent last year. A larger number, 76 percent, are pessimistic about the global economy.

A larger number of investors are giving a thumbs up to certain areas of investing, including stock market performance, which got a 41 percent positive rating compared with just 19 percent positive last year;  "individual components in my portfolio," which got a 44 percent positive rating compared with 26 percent last year; and real estate, which got 36 percent positive response compared to just 9 percent in 2011.

Three industry sectors rated highly with about half the respondents as good places to invest over the next year: technology, health care and energy and utilities. However, socially responsible or green investing continued to slide in appeal from 26 percent in 2010 to 10 percent this year.

A vast majority (88 percent) think it is more important than ever to live within their means and half agree that this is the new normal for the future, the survey shows.

"While the overall survey results show a clear improvement in year-over-year sentiment, the numbers also paint a picture of cautious optimism," says Thomas P. Melcher, executive vice president and managing executive of Hawthorn, PNC Wealth Management's family office unit. "The economic crisis clearly had a lasting impact on their financial perspective and taught lessons that can be applied in the future."

--Karen DeMasters