Which Retirement Plan Is Right For Me? 
Every saver and investor needs to establish a personal financial profile to determine risk tolerance , effective tax bracket and economic goals . When considering retirement plans the first decision is whether to use a qualified or non-qualified plan -LRB- or sometimes a combination of both . -RRB- If your employer sponsors a defined benefit plan like a 401 -LRB- k -RRB- with a partial or full employer matching contribution , you should consider itespecially if youre in a high tax bracket . There are rules to these types of plans , so incorporate those items in your decision making process as well . You may want to consider non-qualified plans that use annuities or life insurance if youre in a lower tax bracket and you want more flexibility . 