A profit-sharing plan is an employer-sponsored qualified retirement plan in which the employer makes discretionary contributions based on company profits. Under Virginia exam standards and federal retirement plan rules covered in licensing materials, only the employer contributes to a traditional profit-sharing plan. Employees do not make direct salary deferral contributions as they would in a 401(k) plan. This makes option A correct.

The employer is not required to make a contribution every year, nor is the employer required to contribute a fixed amount. Contributions can vary year to year depending on business performance, which makes option D incorrect. Employers are allowed to offer other retirement plans alongside a profit-sharing plan, so option B is incorrect. Participation rules are typically defined by plan eligibility requirements rather than employee opt-out provisions, making option C inaccurate. Profit-sharing plans are attractive to employers because of flexibility in contributions and favorable tax treatment, while employees benefit from employer-funded retirement savings.