CNNMoney: The promise of America from one generation to the next is a simple one: After a lifetime of hard and rewarding work, Americans can expect to enjoy a secure retirement. But for a growing number of us, especially women, making good on that promise has become nearly impossible. A December report by the Employee Benefit Research Institute found that the current median in a 401(k) savings account is just north of $18,000. And the median retirement income for women in 2010 was just 59 percent that of men, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office.