Employees face a broad array of retirement plans offered by their employer, with different availability based on job type and when an employee was hired.

Company matches can be significant, representing tens of thousands of dollars over time, so it's critical that employees understand their company's retirement plan design and know what's needed to take full advantage of the matching contribution.

Naturally, we are honored that MIT has added our family of funds to its employees' retirement plans,

Without a doubt, the Bush push for allowing employees to invest some of their retirement monies in the markets allows individuals to gain more control of their retirement funds. Working for two employers -- the U.S. Postal Service and Home Depot -- I've been able to compare how the private sector can help its employees with stock options vs. basically a closed-end retirement plan supported by Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). Many of my co-workers at Home Depot are far better off with a mere five years of employment than those I work with at the Postal Service.

The employer generally gets the employees he deserves.

Many Enron employees lost 70 percent to 90 percent of their retirement assets after the company indicated that it would re-state profit reports,