In a defined contribution pension plan , the contribution formula is established in advance. Contributions are normally made by the employee, the employer, or both according to predetermined percentages or amounts. What is not predetermined is the ultimate retirement benefit. Instead, the employee ' s retirement income depends on the contributions accumulated and the investment performance achieved inside the pension account. The IFC material illustrates this structure through an employee contributing 3% of salary while the employer contributes an equal amount. Option D describes the opposite concept: varying contributions sufficiently to fund a predetermined pension benefit is characteristic of a defined benefit arrangement. Options A and B incorrectly suggest contributions are made entirely at the individual ' s discretion rather than under the plan ' s contribution formula. Therefore, C correctly describes a defined contribution pension plan.

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