Prudential suggests three straightforward moves: bringing back guaranteed but flexibile income, improve investing and saving behavior and optimizing Social Security decisions.

A hard-struck participant needing a $15,000 advance on their 401(k) loses $200,000 of retirement savings. This is not the best plan of action.

Some 59 percent of the first wave of retirement-aged Baby Boomers, who turned 65 this year, are now at least partly retired; only a quarter still hold full-time jobs.

High management costs and lower-than-expected returns are causing some public pension funds to reconsider their investments in private equity and hedge funds.

Variable annuities have become a more standard offering, post-meltdown, and can also provide a profitable gateway to more high-net-worth clients.

Virginia, which is running a $24 billion deficit in its retirement fund, plans to move new hires to a hybrid, 401(k)-styled system.

2011 represented a record funding deficit for pension plans at companies holding America's largest defined benefit plan assets. That hole is expected to get larger in 2012.

A larger percentage of American workers say they have hope for a better financial future and are planning to save more for retirement, a big change since last fall.