If you are self-employed, you may be eligible for a special type of retirement plan. Keogh plans are retirement plans intended for self-employed individuals and employees of unincorporated businesses.

You can contribute up to 100 percent of your income to a Keogh plan, up to an annual maximum of $49,000 in both 2009 and 2010. As with other plans, Keogh plans let your investment earnings grow tax-deferred until you withdraw them, and there are tax penalties for early withdrawal. Like the other plans, Keoghs are available for just about any kind of investment instrument, except precious metals or collectibles.