The best investments for a retirement plan -- such as a 401(k), 403(b), or traditional IRA -- will generally be those that generate higher current income and simultaneously provide the owner with a high probability of long-term price appreciation. Most workplace plans will offer a menu of funds from which you'll be required to choose, and it's especially important to pay attention to the specific investments listed, as well as the corresponding expense ratios. Keeping your costs low is a core tenet of investment success in a retirement plan, and the four funds below most certainly satisfy that requirement. 

The Vanguard High Dividend Yield Index Fund (NASDAQMUTFUND: VHYA.X) has proven itself to be not only a reliable income generator, but a long-term growth engine. One of the great benefits of holding high-dividend investments in tax-deferred accounts is that each dividend payment is shielded from tax when it is paid. If a high-dividend fund is held in a taxable account, any time the fund distributes cash, you'll need to add that amount to your taxable income for the year. In other words, this one checks all of the boxes for an ideal retirement fund -- high income distribution, low expenses, and a robust portfolio of large-cap companies. 

Many of Vanguard's Admiral Shares are reserved for wealthier investors who are able to meet lofty investment minimums -- typically $50,000. With this particular fund, the lower-cost shares are closed to new investors, while the Admiral Shares are now accessible with a minimum investment of only $3,000. 

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Source Fool.com