There's really only one way to beef up a retirement account that took a hit when the economy tanked: put more money into it and let time and tax-deferred appreciation build it up again. Another plus: those extra contributions can trim your current taxes.

People born before 1961 have an advantage; they can invest as much as $22,000 in their 401(k), 403(b) or government 457 accounts, $5,500 more than the "youngsters" in the company. (Surprisingly, only 13 percent of those who qualify for this bonus take advantage of it.) That older coterie can also contribute an extra $1,000 over the usual $5,000 limit to a Roth or traditional IRA, or an extra $2,500 to a Simple IRA.

Need to find the extra money to stash away for the future? Experts recommend being less generous with offspring, refinancing a mortgage, downsizing living expenses. They also recommend careful investing to rebalance a portfolio.

How can you make the most of your retirement next egg? Talk to the tax-and-finance folks at G M Hietpas CPA, LLC.