In this era of "reality" TV, where the "antics" (and worse) of the formerly rich and infamous are on display in ways that could not even have been imagined a decade ago, I seem to find myself increasingly shaking my head and muttering "what were they thinking?" The answer, as often as not, seems to be "they weren't."

And some, looking at the retirement savings behaviors and expectations of the American workforce over the years, might well wonder — and perhaps respond — the same way.

Whether you are an employer trying to motivate workers to avail themselves of a new benefit (or to better utilize an existing one), an advisor looking to improve their portfolio diversification, a provider interested in expanding acceptance of your product set, or a regulator trying to fine-tune (or overhaul) the current legal boundaries, sooner or later you find yourself wanting (perhaps needing) to know "what are 'they' thinking?"