I know we're all sick of hearing about the economy. I get that. Hell, I am, too.

But get this: While we're all fretting over stimulus plans, bailouts and a planned health care overhaul, we need to keep an eye on this administration's retirement plan.

As the Dow teeters back and forth between teenage arrogance and childlike insecurity, we can expect the call for some kind of retirement reform to only get louder.

Granted, increased transparency -- like the kind we've been clamoring for from health care providers -- would be welcome. And a little more (restrained) consistency from regulators couldn't hurt, but the last thing we need are any more mandates.

I know it's early, but there are a couple of retirement provisions in the president's proposed budget. The first builds on the Clinton administration's so-called saver's credit, a tax credit for lower-and-middle-income Americans aimed at encouraging retirement saving. Obama not only wants to make the credit refundable, but he'd like to tweak the eligibility thresholds.

But the second proposal would force most employers to allow workers payroll deductions for IRA accounts.

So while we're all fretting over what may or may not happen with health care (and for good reason) let's not forget there's more than one way we could all get run out of business.

There's nothing worse than getting caught napping -- just ask Madoff's CPA. If he's talking.