Two different studies, two different conclusions

As of September 30, 2009, retirement savings accounted for 35 percent of all household financial assets, up 7.9 percent from June.

Legislation is "imperative" to protect economic recovery.

Proposed budget changes also address retirement.

45 percent of employers offered online decision-support tools during last year's open enrollment; of employers who offered online decision support, nearly three-quarters believe employees altered their plan decisions as a result.

Nearly 40 percent of employers say they plan to increase hiring levels in the next 12 months; of those, 28 percent say they will put more emphasis on hiring workers who have four-year degrees.

Nearly 20 percent of companies that offer 401(k)s changed the investment lineup as a result of economic conditions.

Employers, it seems, are more pessimistic about their employees' situations than the employees themselves.