That is the distinction that makes a 401k not a pension, in the traditional sense. The term "pension" implies something that is paid our after a worker leaves t

That is the distinction that makes a 401k not a pension, in the traditional sense. The term "pension" implies something that is paid our after a worker leaves the company, rather than during their tenure. The problem here is pensions that require future payout over an indeterminate length of time.