Retirement 101: Defined benefit vs. defined contribution plans

When researching retirement account choices, you might come across the terms defined benefit plan and defined contribution plan. What’s the difference between the two, and do you get to pick and choose? (Typically, no.) How might your structure—defined benefit versus defined contribution—impact your retirement savings strategy?

Here’s what you need to know.

Defined benefit plan vs. defined contribution plan

Basically, whether you get a defined benefit or defined contribution plan boils down to whether your company offers a pension plan or a 401(k) plan.

• A defined benefit plan, such as a pension, is one in which you receive a regular payout—typically monthly. Your benefit after retirement might be based on several factors, including years of service and salary (either your ending salary or an average over a certain number of years). In some cases, you can make extra contributions to your defined benefit plan to increase your potential payout.
• A defined contribution plan, such as a 401(k), is one in which you make contributions to your retirement account. Usually, your contributions are invested—either into a preselected target-date fund, or you may be able to choose from a list of exchange-traded funds and mutual funds. There is no set payout. Instead, what you end up getting during retirement depends on how much you put in and how the market performs over time. Employers can also make contributions to your defined contribution plan, often in the form of matched contributions. There are also certain individual retirement accounts (IRAs) that employers can use as defined contribution plans for their workers.

The main difference between defined benefits and defined contributions is who’s primarily responsible for your retirement income: your employer or you.

In some cases, you might have access to both types of plans. Or, if you’re an older worker, you might have a defined benefit plan from earlier in your career (when company pension plans were more prevalent) and a defined contribution plan now. You can still draw on your defined benefit plan during retirement, but it might not be enough to live on.

Overview: Defined benefit vs. defined contribution plan

The rise of the defined contribution vs. defined benefit pension plan

There has been a significant shift among employers to offer defined contribution plans instead of pensions. According to the Congressional Research Service, 68% of workers had access to either a defined contribution or defined benefit plan as of 2021, but of those workers, only 15% had access to a defined benefit plan.

Some of the reasons for this shift include:

• Administrative costs. Employers that offer defined benefit plans face much higher costs versus those that offer defined contribution plans.
• Liability shift. A pension plan can become a massive liability on a company’s books and may become underfunded over time, putting both the company and its retirees at risk. Over the past few decades, most companies have chosen to shift the market-return liability to employees. These days, defined benefit plans are mostly available to government and municipal employees (these organizations have the power to levy taxes).
• Job-hopping is the norm. Some employees prefer the portability and flexibility of defined contribution plans.

Can you create your own retirement pension?

The shift toward defined contribution plans puts more of the risk for your retirement on your shoulders. Consider finding ways to boost (and protect) your retirement savings:

1. Maximize your contributions and any employer match. A 401(k) allows you to contribute up to $22,500 per year (as of the 2023 tax year). Plus, some employers offer a match—that is, free money for your retirement. By contributing as much as possible and maximizing that match, you can potentially build a retirement portfolio large enough to meet your income needs in retirement.
2. Use other accounts. Other tax-advantaged accounts like IRAs and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) can help you set aside tax-advantaged money that can be used for retirement or medical expenses incurred in retirement. Holding different accounts can help you grow a portfolio.
3. Consider an annuity. An annuity offers a set payout similar to a pension. You can purchase an annuity while you’re still working, make regular contributions, and receive a set payout for decades—or for the rest of your life, depending on the type of annuity you choose. Another option is to use a portion of your retirement portfolio to purchase an immediate annuity and receive regular retirement income while the rest of your portfolio grows. Be aware that there are different types of annuities. They can be complicated and come with a variety of fees, charges, and potential taxes.
4. Build various revenue streams over time. Finally, you might be able to diversify revenue streams by building a business, investing in rental property, or taking on another retirement side-hustle. Consider how you might create cash flow that can support you during retirement.

The bottom line

There’s no getting around it: The onus will likely be on you to fund your retirement journey. Gone are the days when you could rely on an employer to take good care of you after years of loyalty—even many government employers are shifting to defined contribution plans. Social Security can help fill the gaps, but it can’t be relied on to fully fund your golden years. 

Review your financial situation and your retirement choices. Consider using multiple strategies to put you on a path toward a comfortable retirement.