The investment options in a deferred compensation plan can be robust. The more prevalent investment options will be a fixed rate of return, a market-based rate of return or both. An example of a fixed rate would be crediting plan participants with a guaranteed 4% rate of return. 409A Direct offers market-based investment options which can include a variety of fixed income and equity investment fund managers. These are well-known fund managers such as JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, Vanguard, Fidelity, T. Rowe Price, PIMCO and many others. Plans typically allow 10 to 20 investment fund choices. Custom portfolios based on various levels of risk and return can also be an investment option, as can company stock.