A retirement plan sponsored by companies with fewer than 100 employees which is attractive for employers because it avoids some of the administrative fees and paperwork of plans such as a 401(k) plan. A SIMPLE plan may be structured as a 401(k).

A defined contribution plan offered by a corporation to its employees, which allows employees to set aside tax-deferred income for retirement purposes, and in some cases employers will match their contribution dollar-for-dollar. Taking a distribution of the funds before a certain specified age will trigger a penalty tax. The name 401(k) comes from the IRS section describing the program.

An arrangement in which an employer shares some of its profits with its employees. The compensation can be stocks, bonds, or cash, and can be immediate or deferred until retirement. Profit-sharing allows for changing contributions each year. Contributions are determined by a formula to allocate the overall contribution and distribution of accumulated funds after the retirement age. Unless the plans are defined as an elective deferral plan, the contributions are not tax deductible. Contributions and earnings can grow tax-deferred until withdrawal.

A retirement program for self-employed people or owners of companies with less than 25 employees, allowing them to defer taxes on investments intended for retirement. This plan allows employers to contribute on behalf of eligible employees, and all contributions are tax-deductible as a business expense and can be integrated with Social Security contributions. In addition, there is no minimum contribution requirement.