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1. Fees

Every 401(k) provider is required by law to adequately disclose any fees associated with the plan. If you don鈥檛 know how much the fees are for the investments offered within your plan, ask your plan administrator. You can then聽compare the fees to those of an聽聽to see whether they鈥檙e reasonable.

Fees will depend on the size of your employer and the available funds. (Large employers typically pay less than small employers, and passively managed funds typically charge less聽than actively聽managed funds.) If your available options charge more than 1%, consider shopping around outside your plan for less expensive investment options.

2. Diversification

罢丑别听聽requires that 401(k) plans provide the opportunity for participants to choose from a 鈥渂road range of investments.鈥� This 鈥渂road range鈥� is further clarified as being at least three diversified core investment categories, not including employer stock. However, there are no strict guidelines that define how diversified the options must be. A high-fee plan with聽three under-performing, actively managed funds could still meet the diversification requirement.

The 401(k) option you choose聽should meet your diversification expectations. More importantly, it should聽complement your investment approach, not define it for you.

3. Contributions

There are two possible types of contributions:

Employer contributions

If your company offers to provide a matching contribution when you contribute to your 401(k), that鈥檚 free money to you once it鈥檚 vested, meaning you have full ownership over the employer-provided assets. Depending on how the match works and how much it is, this could be a great way to build your 401(k), even if the plans鈥� fund selections are less than desirable. A 100% employer match is basically the same as doubling your money.

Employee contributions

How much do you expect to save? If you want to sock away the maximum amount of tax-deferred money, then there鈥檚 no comparison between a聽. With a 401(k) you聽can contribute a maximum of $18,000 in 2016, plus an additional $6,000 catch-up contribution聽if you鈥檙e 50 or older. With an IRA you can only contribute $5,500, plus $1,000 as a catch-up for those 50 or older. But聽if you鈥檙e considering saving聽a relatively small amount per month 鈥斅爏ay, a few hundred dollars 鈥斅爐ake a close look at 401(k) plan costs, investment options and whether there鈥檚 an employer match. In some cases, an IRA could be a better choice than a 401(k).

Unbiased advice

If you need help evaluating your company鈥檚 401(k) plan, the investment options available to you, or the best way for you to start saving for retirement, seek unbiased advice from a fee-only financial planner who can help tailor your planning based on your聽situation.

This article first appeared at .聽Learn more about Forrest Baumhover聽on NerdWallet鈥檚 鈥楢sk An Advisor.鈥�