The phrase “pension benefits” has come up a lot in recent weeks, especially during the negotiations between the United Auto Workers union and the “big three” automotive manufacturers, narrowly avoiding a strike.  But for the majority of private-sector U.S. workers, pensions seem to have disappeared a long time ago. Pensions have been phased out, but we do still have employer-issued plans such as 401(k)s. There continues to be confusion about the differences between 401(k) plans and pensions. No, they aren’t the same thing, and here’s the big difference:  With a traditional pension, the employer is the one responsible for funding