Besides 401k and Roth IRA and traditional IRA, what are my options for tax deferred investing?

I have my 401k maxed out and both the Roth IRA and traditional IRA have low contribution limits of about $4000 this year.

Are there any tax deferred ways of saving for retirement with much larger amounts (say $20,000 to $40,000 a year)?

Obviously I can just save in a normal investment account. My understanding is that only dividends (not growth) are taxed each year. A tax deferred account just defers tax on the dividends (correct me if I'm wrong). If that's the case (and if I have no alternatives) then I'll just try to choose a fund that doesn't give dividends.

If you can start your own small business, you could look into SEP, SIMPLE, and Keogh accounts. They provide similar tax deferral with higher contribution limits.

You could decide on investing in rental properties. They provide many tax advantages as well. Tax on capital gains for selling real estate can be deferred if you use the proceeds to invest in another property.

More options include investing in municipal bond funds, where the dividends can be tax free, or investing directly in tax exempt municipal bonds.

Certian types of annuities and variable life contracts are tax deferred as well.