Research suggests that automatic enrollment in workplace retirement plans does work. In its new analysis of 401(k) investing, Fidelity Investments examined the habits of 9 million employees in nearly 12,000 workplace retirement plans. At companies that imposed automatic enrollment, the participation rate was 22 percentage points higher than at other companies. The participation rate jumped 40 percentage points among younger and lower-paid workers, who are least likely to save for retirement.

Apparently, people don't mind if Big Brother drags them into a 401(k). In the survey, 87 percent of those automatically enrolled stayed put, even though they were free to ditch the plan. Of course, that would have required them to fill out paperwork.

COLLEGE SAVINGS TAX RELIEF - While so-called 529 college savings plans can be an excellent way to save for college, parents who opened these accounts faced the risk of eventually setting off a ticking tax bomb. What attracts parents to 529 plans is their ability to stuff money into them without worrying about federal taxes.

But that tax advantage came with a caveat. Families could withdraw money for college expenses without triggering federal tax through Dec. 31, 2010. The next day, however, families would have been forced to pay taxes on the profits. Many experts tried to assure parents that Congress would surely not let this tax protection expire, but there was no guarantee. Until now. A single sentence in the 900-plus-page legislation made the tax perk permanent.

If you invest in a 529, stick with the low-cost plans. My favorite 529s are Nevada's Vanguard plan (www.vanguard.com), Utah's Vanguard plan (www.uesp.org) and West Virginia's plan that uses Dimensional Fund Advisors mutual funds (www.smart529.com).

RETIREMENT SAVINGS CONTRIBUTION CREDIT - The legislation also permanently spared the so-called Saver's Credit, which awards lower-income savers a tax break. To encourage these folks to set aside money for retirement, the federal government will refund as much as $1,000 for someone who invests in an IRA or 401(k). To qualify for the obscure credit, which was scheduled to disappear at the end of this year, a single taxpayer's income must be below $25,000 or $50,000 for a married couple.