In the case of contributing a percentage of your wage to an employer-sponsored retirement savings plan, your wealth may expand tremendously, allowing you to have more peace of mind throughout your so-called golden years if you do so. Tax advantages are offered in almost all retirement plans, whether they are accessible upfront during the savings period or later when you begin drawing withdrawals. Traditional 401(k) contributions, for example, are made using pre-tax monies, resulting in a reduction in your taxable income.

1. Defined Contribution Programs

DC plans, including 401(k)s, have virtually taken over the retirement market since its debut in the early 1980s. According to a recent report by insurance broker Willis Towers Watson, around 86 percent of Fortune 500 businesses provided solely defined contribution plans rather than conventional pensions in 2019. In addition to the 401(k) plan is the best retirement used DC plan among employers of all sizes, the 403(b) plan.

2. Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA)

An Individual Retirement Account (IRA) is a valued retirement plan designed by the United States government to assist employees in saving for retirement. Individuals may make contributions of up to $6,000 to a retirement plan in 2022, while employees over the age of 50 can make up to $7,000 in that year. Traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs, spousal IRAs, rollover IRAs, SEP IRAs, and SIMPLE IRAs are just a few of the several types of IRAs available. Here's an explanation of what each is and how they vary from one another. IRA payments are allowed to grow tax-free until the account user withdraws them at retirement when they are subject to income tax. Early withdrawals may expose the employee to extra taxes and penalties due to the withdrawal.

3. 401(K) Plan for a Single Person

The Solo 401(k) plan, also known as a Solo-k, Uni-k, or One-participant 401(k), is a retirement plan meant for company owners and their spouses. Once you recruit more employees, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requires that they be enrolled in the plan to satisfy eligibility conditions. The plan will be subject to nondiscrimination testing. Aside from that, the solo 401(k) compares well to the widely used SEP IRA.

4. Traditional Pensions

Traditional pensions are a form of defined benefit (DB) plan. They are one of the most straightforward to administer because they demand minimal involvement on your part as an employee. When employees reach retirement age, pensions are entirely paid by their employers and offer a set monthly payment to them. On the other hand, DB plans are on the endangered species list since there are fewer firms that provide them.

Following a decline from 59 percent in 1998, according to research from Willis Towers Watson, just 14 percent of Fortune 500 businesses offered retirement plans to attract new employees in 2019. Why? DB plans to obligate your company to follow through on a costly pledge to contribute a substantial amount to your retirement. Pensions, which are payable for the rest of your life, often replace a portion of your earnings depending on your length of service and annual wage.

5. Income Annuities with a Guaranteed Stream

However, since GIAs are normally not issued by companies, individuals may purchase them to build their pension plans. You may swap a large lump amount upon retirement for an instant annuity, which will provide you with a monthly payout for the rest of your life. However, most individuals are uncomfortable with this arrangement. Deferred income annuities, paid into overtime, are becoming more popular.

You may purchase them on an after-tax basis, in which case you'll only owe tax on the plan's profits and not on the purchase price. Alternatively, you may purchase it inside an IRA and get a tax credit upfront; but the full annuity would be taxable when you begin to make payments.

6. The Thrift Savings Plan

The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) is a kind of 401(k) plan that has been beefed up and accessible to government employees and military members. A total of five low-cost investing alternatives are available to participants, including a bond fund, an S&P 500 index fund, a small-cap fund, and an overseas stock fund — as well as a fund that invests only in newly issued Treasury bonds.