The Thrift Savings Plan is really pretty simple-some basic index funds and five new "lifecycle-funds".  The plan has very low fees and federal employees can put together a diversified portfolio with those choices.  In addition, this plan alows retirees the ability to purchase an immediate annuity.  Many 401k plans lack this annuity feature.

Walter Updegrave of CNNMoney thinks Uncle Sam has a pretty solid retirement plan.

The lesson here: Don't get distracted by all the funds your plan throws at you. Today the typical 401(k) plan has 19 investment options, and about one in 10 has more than 25. Employers may feel that they're doing you a favor by offering all that choice, but they're only making it harder for you to do the right thing since too much choice just leads to confusion.