Pension vs. 401(k): What's the difference?

Pension vs. 401(k)

The main differences between a pension and a 401(k) involve how the money is contributed to each type of account, and how it's dispersed after you retire.

Funding

• Pensions have traditionally been funded completely by employers.
• A 401(k) is largely funded with employee savings, though the company may sweeten the pot.

Payments

• A pension offers guaranteed payments in retirement until you die, or until the company goes belly-up.
• A retiree with a 401(k) may make penalty-free withdrawals of any size after age 59 1/2 — and must watch the balance carefully, to avoid running out of money.

Access to funds

• You can access your pension in retirement once you've worked for the employer for a certain number of years — even if you quit the job long before retirement.
• If you leave you a job where you have a 401(k), you can keep the account right where it is or roll it over into a traditional IRA.

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How does a pension plan work?

A pension plan is a defined-benefit plan, meaning you get a specified payment amount (in the form of monthly checks or a lump sum amount) during your retirement years. Pensions are funded by your employer; that is, the company puts aside money and invests it on your behalf.

Pension income formula

How much pension income can you count on in retirement?

There’s a formula for that, and it's based on these factors:

• Annual salary
• Number of years you’ve worked for the company
• Age at retirement

You're not eligible to receive any money until you are vested with your workplace. To become vested you need to work for the company for a certain number of years before you qualify for your pension.

What is a 401(k) plan?

A 401(k) is a defined-contribution plan, meaning your benefits in retirement are determined by how much money you and your employer contribute to the plan.

Yes, your employer, too: Your company might match a portion of the money you put in, up to a certain percentage of your income.

Let’s say you want to contribute 10% of your salary to your 401(k) plan. If you earn $2,000 each pay period, $200 will be taken out of your pay and placed into your 401(k). Your employer might contribute 50 cents for every dollar you put in, up to 6% of your salary.

One benefit of a 401(k) is that it’s tax-deferred. A part of your paycheck goes directly into your plan before income taxes are taken out, and the money grows tax-free until you withdraw it in retirement.

But if you make a withdrawal too early — before age 59 1/2 — you'll owe taxes, plus a stiff 10% penalty.

The main downside to a 401(k) plan is the risk that you'll run out of funds during your retirement if you failed to contribute enough while you were working. Smart budgeting throughout your life is the best method for avoiding this nightmare scenario.

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How to choose between a pension or a 401(k) plan

That's a trick question, because most likely you won’t decide whether you get a pension or 401(k). That’s usually determined solely by the employer — and many of them have decided pensions are too expensive.

Today, 401(k) plans are far more prevalent among employers. While 65% of private industry works have accces to a 401(k), only 15% have access to a pension, according to the most recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

If a pension sounds appealing to you, your best bet for landing one is to take a job in the public sector, such as in government, education or public safety.

And If you happen to work for a company that doesn’t offer a pension or a 401(k), be sure to save and invest on your own. The best tip is to start saving early and often.