NYTimes.com: Failed Pensions: A Painful Lesson in Assumptions

"Robert M. Bowden retired from his job as accounts manager for a large trucking company with a plan to travel for himself.
But his company's pension plan collapsed this year, and his annual payout was cut to $24,000 from $48,000.

Mr. Bowden and other retirees of the company, CNF, see a culprit. In a lawsuit, they accuse the company of failing for many years to set aside enough money in the plan. "

How do you plan ahead when your pension-plan manager doesn't?