This booklet covers private investment retirement plans governed by state laws and guidelines in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the Internal Revenue Code. Your employer's retirement savings plan is an essential part of your future financial security. This booklet helps you understand your plan and explains what information you should review periodically and where to go for help with questions.. It includes information on: Different types of retirement plans; What information you can get about your plan; When and how you can receive retirement benefits; What to do if you have a question or find a mistake; The responsibilities of those who manage the plan and investments; Your responsibilities to understand and monitor your plan; and Specific circumstances such as how a divorce or change of employer ownership may effect your retirement benefit. NOTE: The information presented is a simplified summary of participant rights and responsibilities for you to use as a reference, not a legal interpretation of ERISA. Employer retirement fund managers and administrators, human resources or benefits counselors, financial planners,accountants, CPAs, small business owners, employees of companies and organizations that offer retirement investment plans, and public employees may be interested in this guidance. Check out ourRetirement resources collection