A LIMRA survey released last week confirmed consumers who work with advisors are more likely to be saving in a retirement plan and at a higher rate.

While two-thirds of advisors say technology has been mostly beneficial to their firms, 61 percent say it would be easier to manage if their various systems were better integrated, an SEI survey found.

Women have been thrust into breadwinner role by economic crisis, but say they're not well-prepared to make financial decisions.

Like the marketing used for the diamond industry, Allianz's strategies include clarity, comfort, cost of living and certainty, all aimed at better retirement planning.

Even with their 401(k)s, Generation X-aged workers might be as much as $78,000 in the red when it comes to their financial needs in retirement.

Financial Finesse's report says that while 16 percent of employees have no financial stress, 68 percent are also completely unprepared for retirement.

Three quarters of well-to-do pre-retirees say they fear spiraling health care costs in their retirement future, according to a Nationwide Financial survey.

The average return for target maturity funds last quarter came in 3.5 percent under the S&P 500 at nearly 9 percent, but beat the BarCap U.S. Aggregate Bond Index by over 8.5 percent.