Hands-off options that automatically adjust their risk as you get closer to retirement.

Most traditional employer-sponsored 401(k) plans provide a limited menu of about 15 to 30 investment options. These typically include:

Low-cost funds that track major benchmarks like the S&P 500.

For most people, a 401(k) feels like a "set it and forget it" machine. You pick a target-date fund or a few mutual funds from a pre-approved list and let it ride. But as you become more confident in your investing strategy, you might find yourself asking:

In these standard plans, you directly purchase individual tickers like Apple or Tesla.

Pooled investments that hold hundreds of different stocks.

Can You Buy Individual Stock With Your 401(k)? What You Need to Know

2. The Advanced Path: Self-Directed Brokerage Accounts (SDBA) Can You Invest Your 401(k) in Individual Stocks?