401(k) Plans and Spend-down Options

American workers are primarily saving for retirement through their 401(k) plans and will likely need assistance making complicated decisions about how to spend their money throughout retirement. Other countries with defined contribution (DC) systems are also dealing with this spend-down challenge. To identify lessons for the U.S. from the experiences of other countries, GAO examined selected countries' approaches to offering retirement spend-down options; strategies to help participants make sound decisions; and approaches to regulating and overseeing options. This book discusses these options and strategies in detail, while also providing defined contribution plans and examining income replacement during retirement years in these defined contribution plans.