 TITLE: What Is a Pension Fund? CONTENT: What Should I Do if My Employer Doesn't Offer a Pension Fund?\n-------------------------------------------------------------\nIf your employer doesn't offer a pension fund, you've got some alternatives. Your options include:\n*   **Employer-sponsored 401(k)**\n*   **Traditional IRA**: This type of IRA lets you set aside tax-deferred money for retirement. With this setup, you can claim tax deductions on your contributions. You pay taxes on the money in your account when you withdraw it.\n*   **Roth IRA**: Money you put into a Roth IRA already has been taxed. This means you won't pay any taxes on money when you withdraw it. Unlike a traditional IRA, you can't claim tax deductions on contributions to a Roth IRA.\nA number of financial institutions offer IRAs, such as banks, credit unions, investment brokerage firms and mutual fund providers. Rather than setting up an IRA through an employer, you'll need to establish it and maintain it on your own. END