The nation's economic problems have made it harder for parents to save money for their child's college education.

More than 33 percent of the parents who responded to a new TD Ameritrade survey say they have stopped saving or reduced the amount of money they are saving for their children's education.

Nearly 60 percent of the parents predicted it would take at least 11 years to save up enough money to cover their children's college bills.

The Omaha-based online brokerage hired InfoUSA's Opinion Research Corporation to conduct the random phone survey, which has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

TD Ameritrade's Keith Garcia says the brokerage recommends that parents begin saving for college as soon as possible.