For many, the choice of retirement plan type is made for them by their employer, or as an after-effect of a distant decision to create an account themselves, or perhaps, to roll something over from one firm to another. Because these choices are often littered with dense financial & legal jargon, as well as the fact that plan choices are often not their own, the public is all too often oblivious to the features, benefits and risks of each plan type. For individual savers looking to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the wide range of retirement savings vehicles, we created this guide. In the United States there are at least 18 different types of retirement plans that fall in four discrete categories: individual retirement accounts, defined benefit plans, employer-sponsored plans, and small business plans. Moreover, business owners and managers make a variety of discretionary choices in implementing their plans (such as eligibility requirements, matching contributions, non-elective contributions, vesting schedules, hardship provisions, investment menu, etc.) that have meaningful impact on plan participants. Key Attributes of Retirement Plans Taxes Retirement plans impact taxes paid by participants