TD Ameritrade is offering a new investment program that will allow plan sponsors and registered investment advisors to offer exchange traded funds (ETFs) to 401(k) plan participants alongside other plan investment options such as mutual funds, collective investment funds, and employer stocks.

"With this 401(k) solution, we've made adding ETFs as an investment option to a retirement plan easy and affordable," said Skip Schweiss, president, TD Ameritrade Trust Company. "We offer a wide selection of non-proprietary investment choices at a low cost so advisors and their plan sponsor clients have the tools they need to help workers pursue their retirement goals. By including ETFs in retirement plans, plan sponsors and advisors can deliver valuable choices to their clients and differentiate themselves in the marketplace."

The company says the popularity of ETFs as an investment option has been growing steadily with independent RIAs and TD Ameritrade clients looking for low and transparent fees and diversification. TD Ameritrade client usage of ETFs has increased more than 30 percent annually for the past two years.