Saving for retirement is a major objective for 77 percent of defined contribution plan participants who work with a financial advisor—20 points higher than the percentage of those who do not have an advisor, according to a new survey.

Among 2,081 plan participants surveyed online, 24 percent said saving enough for retirement was their greatest financial concern, up from 18 percent in 2011, according to the MassMutual survey. Results were compared to a similar survey conducted by the company in 2011.

Only 28 percent of respondents currently have, or have had in the past five years, a relationship with a financial advisor, according to the survey. Thirty-one percent of men have a relationship with a personal financial advisor compared with 24 percent of women.

Men pay more attention than do women to fund performance (30 percent versus 22 percent), income in retirement (26 percent versus 18 percent) and asset allocation (25 percent versus 15 percent), according to the survey.

The survey found that satisfaction with information from advisors is up sharply, with 47 percent very satisfied in 2013 versus 25 percent in 2011. Satisfaction with information from plan sponsors is down just as drastically,  with 10 percent satisfied in 2013 versus 30 percent two years ago.

Participants in general are saving more, according to the survey, with the average retirement savings rate at 10.5 percent, up from 9 percent two years ago.

"The evidence that retirement is on the minds of virtually every American worker is encouraging," says Merl Baker, principal of Brightwork Partners, which conducted the survey. "Participants consider financial professionals an important source of investment information and, among those who use an advisor, satisfaction is up significantly."

The online survey was conducted between February 18 and March 11.