History & SocietyScience & TechBiographiesAnimals & NatureGeography & TravelArts & CultureProConGames & QuizzesVideosToday in HistoryDictionaryHistory & Society
  • History
  • Philosophy & Religion
  • Politics, Law & Government
  • Society & Social Issues
Science & Tech
  • Health & Medicine
  • Science
  • Technology
Biographies
  • Browse Biographies
Animals & Nature
  • Birds, Reptiles & Other Vertebrates
  • Environment
  • Fossils & Geologic Time
  • Insects & Other Invertebrates
  • Mammals
  • Plants
Geography & Travel
  • Geography & Travel
Arts & Culture
  • Entertainment & Pop Culture
  • Literature
  • Sports & Recreation
  • Visual Arts
Image GalleriesPodcastsSummariesTop QuestionsBritannica Kids
Britannica Money
Personal Finance
Investing
Trading
Retirement
Companies
Biographies
Finance & the Economy
Britannica Money Logo
About UsPrivacy PolicyTerms & Conditions
© 2026 EncyclopÊdia Britannica, Inc.
Retirement

Defined Contribution Plans

What Is an Elder Law Attorney?
Retirement
What is an elder law attorney, and when do you need one?
Estate planning, retirement, health care, and more.
What Is a Green Burial?
Retirement
The natural appeal of green burials
Save money and help the planet.

Recently Updated

  • Alternative investments for the 401(k) setBefore you join the club, read the fine print.
  • Goodbye saver’s credit, hello saver’s matchHow Uncle Sam plans to boost Americans’ retirement savings.
  • Contribution limits: 401(k), IRA, HSA, and 529 plansKnow how much you can save.

See All

401(k) rollovers: A step-by-step guide
Straightforward, but you have to do it right.
401(k) vesting schedules: Cliff, graded, and immediate ownership
How long until you own your employer’s match?
Alternative investments for the 401(k) set
Before you join the club, read the fine print.
Are 401(k) fees affecting your retirement savings?
Don’t let fees nibble down your nest egg.
Can you have multiple traditional and Roth IRAs? What if you also contribute to a 401(k)?
Understand income and contribution limits.
Catch-up contributions: Rules and limits for older savers
A pre-senior perk.
Contribution limits: 401(k), IRA, HSA, and 529 plans
Know how much you can save.
Do gold and other precious metals have a place in your retirement portfolio?
There’s the “gold IRA” and a few other options.
Employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs): Owning a piece of your employer
When company stock becomes a retirement benefit.
Goodbye saver’s credit, hello saver’s match
How Uncle Sam plans to boost Americans’ retirement savings.
How much you can contribute to your 401(k), IRA, HSA, and 529 in 2025
What’s up (and what’s not) in ‘25.
How to get around the 401(k) early withdrawal penalty
Try other options first.
If your child is earning money, here’s why they might want a Roth IRA
A Roth for all ages.
Is your employee 401(k) match enough to retire on?
Free money only goes so far.
Job-hopping? Don’t forget to roll: 4 options for rolling over your 401(k)
Rock the job, roll the funds.
Members only: Alternative investments may be coming to your 401(k)
The alts door is opening. Should you walk through it?
My company 401(k) plan offers a Roth option. Should I use it?
Taxes now or later?
Profit-sharing plans: Retirement money, not a bonus
A valuable benefit with a misleading name.
Pros and cons of taking out a 401(k) loan
Borrowing from your future self.
Retirement planning for the self-employed: How to choose between a solo 401(k) and SEP IRA
Self-employed? Find a solid retirement savings plan.
Retirement saving basics: 457 plan vs. 403(b)
Nest eggs for nonprofit workers.
Roth IRA vs. traditional IRA: Which should you choose?
The devil is in the (tax) details.
Roth conversions: What they are, how they work, pros and cons
Should you convert retirement savings?
The rule of 55 and early 401(k) withdrawals
One way to avoid the usual penalty.
The saver’s credit: A tax break for retirement savers
One retirement contribution could lower your taxes and boost your future savings.
The spousal IRA: Helping your spouse save for retirement
Spread savings across the household.
Types of individual retirement accounts: Your guide to traditional, Roth, SEP, and SIMPLE plans
An IRA crash course.
What are self-directed IRAs, and should I consider one?
A (complex) way to hold alternative assets in a retirement account.
What is a 403(b) plan, and how does it differ from a 401(k)?
Nearly identical, except where it isn’t.
What the SECURE 2.0 Act means for you and your retirement
Some positive tweaks to retirement rules.
What’s the difference between a 401(k) and an IRA?
Retirement account showdown: IRA vs. 401(k)
Your employer’s 401(k) plan is an easy way to save for retirement
Plant it and watch it grow.
Your guide to small business retirement plans
Get the best bang for your benefit bucks.
Your retirement income: How required minimum distribution (RMD) rules work
The ABCs of RMDs.
SUBSCRIBE