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The 401k retirement plan has taken the corporate world by storm since 1979, primarily because of it's affordability to employers. While pensions often sucked companies dry, 401k providers charge a small monthly administration fee (usually around $100) and this will give employers and employees several different investment options. After entering into a contract, you specify a percentage of your income to be deducted and put into a special account where it can vest interest over time and profit with the economy. Sometimes employers agree to match your contributions and your final pay-out could be twice the amount you invested by the time you receive it.

What makes the 401k retirement plan different from other pensions is its flexibility and the amount of control you are given over it. Some options include: What percentage or flat monthly rate do you want to invest? Also, where do you want to invest? Your employer will provide you with a list and you can choose between stocks, mutual funds, bonds, money market investments, company stock or any combination of the aforementioned. You may also appoint a financial adviser to make the choice for you. As with anything in life, there are risks. If your employer goes broke, you may lose a significant portion of your retirement savings, especially if you've invested heavily in company stocks. You may decide to participate more actively in where your money gets invested because some annuities may be poor performers, while others are winners. Financial experts often recommend to diversify where your money goes so you don't "put all your eggs into one basket."

Check with your company to see which 401k retirement plan you're under. Either defined benefit or defined contribution. Under a defined benefit plan, your employer controls the final pay-outs, which don't fluctuate as financial markets do, but instead are based upon your salary history and years employed. With a defined contribution plan, you'll have more control over how much you put in and where it's invested, but less guarantee on how much you will end up with when you retire.

When you leave a company, generally your 401k retirement plan remains active for the rest of your life. If you don't feel comfortable leaving your savings in the care of your ex-employer, or if your company charges a fee for leaving your account with them, you may rollover 401 k benefits into an Individual Retirement Account. Look into the rollover 401 k if you're switching employers too. You're allowed to draw on your 401k retirement plan after age 59 1/2 and you will then pay taxes on what you take out. Most plans have a minimum distribution requirement you must abide by, meaning that once you reach age 70 1/2, you'll have to start to withdraw some of your money, unless of course, you're still working. The only plan that is exempt from the minimum distribution rules is the Roth IRA. You may want to consider taking a crash course in investing and take a more active role to ensure maximum returns.

To learn more about 401k retirement plan options, you can ask your employer, local banker or advisers at Fidelity Financial. Remember, the earlier you plan for your retirement, the better you will ensure a secure future.

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