Excerpt: What's happening when ... employers, the media, advisors and Congress link '401k' and 'retirement'-- sometimes even calling the plans '401k pensions?' Then expectations may change dramatically. In fact, however, 401(k) plans aren't necessarily intended to be retirement plans, even by employers that don't maintain traditional defined benefit pension plans. What's the result when employers do not clearly communicate the purpose of the plan and define the expectations for employees?