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原文： Lifetime Income Options for Retirement Plans Herr, Daniel P. The article offers information on various retirement income options in the U.S. The government aims to reduce problems in annuitization of 401(k) plan assets and promote lifetime income. It also discusses several government efforts that address the retirement income options including the request of information on the lifetime income options for the retirement plans of beneficiaries of government agencies, the retirement security project, and the legislative proposals. Most defined contribution (DC) plans pay benefits in a lump sum, however, focus is being shifted to investment alternatives designed to pay retirement benefits in a lifetime stream of income. Recently, the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) released a request for information with respect to annuity payments from DC plans. To date, EBSA has received more than 700 responses. Q. Why was this request for information published by EBSA? A. Part of the Obama administration’s “Supporting Middle Class Families” program focuses on ways to make 401(k) and other DC plans more like defined benefit (DB) plans, which guarantee retirees a lifetime pension. By publishing this request for information, the EBSA is attempting to gauge Americans’ retirement security in lig of the recent trend away from sponsorship of DB plans, toward sponsorship of defined contribution plans. The number of active participants in DB plans fell from about 27 million in 1975 to approximately 20 million in 2006, whereas the number of active participants in DC plans increased from about 11 million in 1975 to 66 million in 2006. The request includes questions on a broad range of topics from general discussions of annuities to disclosure, investment selection, and participant education. It is hope that the responses to this publication will set the stage for future guidance with respect to annuity payments from DC plans and identify steps that the agencies could or