Wren Co. operates a chain of gift shops. The company maintains a defined contribution pension plan for its employees. The plan requires quarterly installments to be paid to the funding agent, Whims Funds, by the fifteenth of the month following the end of each quarter. Assume that the pension cost is $141,500 for the quarter ended March 31.
a. Journalize the entries to record the accrued pension liability on March 31 and the payment to the funding agent on April 15.
b. How does a defined contribution plan differ from a defined benefit plan?