After a long, hard year-and-a-half of watching retirement slip off the radar for both plan sponsors and their employees, we are glad to see it didn't completely disappear. In fact, according to our latest research, it's re-emerging. Though we aren't out of the economic storm just yet, employers are beginning to reinstate their 401(k) matches and, more importantly, people are beginning to realize they never want to be in a position of having to put their retirement on hold ever again.

For providers, the fact that retirement is back in focus represents an opportunity for those who realize that there has been a shift in the way people are planning for their retirement. Just like people are taking more proactive steps to ensure their portfolios regain their losses, plan providers can be proactive in gaining new – and keeping existing – assets during a time when your sponsors' employees are motivated to rebuild their retirement.

Our latest research shows people have a new commitment to improving their overall financial situations. For the first time since 2007, there was an increase in long-term, proactive financial calls, up from 18 percent in Q2 2009 to 19 percent in Q3 2009. Though small as it seems, the increase compliments the fact that employees are taking control of their day-to-day habits and are re-evaluating their goals. And better money management will mean freed income for investing. In Q3, 37 percent of calls made to our financial helpline were about budgeting and savings questions, up from 21 percent a year ago.