Excerpt: [Courts have ruled that, under DB plans,] a man and a woman with equal earnings histories should receive equal monthly pension benefits. In contrast, 401(k) plans do not generally offer annuities; they provide lump-sum payments ... Retirees who want to annuitize the lump sums must take the money to an insurance company [and buy] a single premium individual annuity (SPIA) [which] will provide smaller benefits to women and larger benefits to men than would defined benefit plans.  MORE >>