401 (k) for small business in Brentwood, MO. Setting up a 401(k) plan for your small business in Brentwood, MO can offer numerous benefits to both you and the people that work for you, helping businesses offer more security and benefits to prospective employees. In addition to offering more benefits than competitors, providing a 401(k) plan also offers numerous tax benefits for both employers and employees. But, some business owners may still be wary because of the time involved in establishing and operating a plan, as well as the complexities of investment and financial regulations.
At Correct Capital Wealth Management, our Brentwood, MO financial advisors and retirement consultants help companies of all sizes offer customized and successful 401(k) plans. We do most of the work for you, so you can spend your energy on growing your business while we focus on growing your and your employees' retirement accounts. Speak to a Correct Capital team member today at 314-930-401(k) or fill out our online form to get started with creating a 401(k) for your small business in Brentwood, MO.
Do I Need a 401(k) For My Brentwood, MO Small Business?
Setting up and operating a 401(k) for a small business in Brentwood, MO can do wonders for you, your workers, and your business goals alike:
- recruit and keep top talent — Offering a 401(k) plan is an essential asset for recruiting and keeping accomplished talent, especially in a competitive Brentwood, MO job market. Employees see a 401(k) as a valuable benefit, and offering one can help differentiate your business from competitors, especially if you offer 401(k)s to rank-and-file employees as well.
- Tax benefits — Both businesses and employees can reduce their tax liability with a 401(k) plan. Matching contributions from employers are tax deductible to the extent that the contributions do not surpass the yearly corporate tax deduction limit on employer contributions, which is 25% of covered payroll. The federal government also offers tax credits when employers first establish a 401(k) plan, and if the employer offers automatic enrollment. Employee contributions reduce their tax liability and their contributions grow tax free.
- Increased employee retirement savings — A retirement account allows employees to save for retirement through automatic contributions deducted from their paychecks. Greater financial security eventually leads to a more productive workforce.
- Decreased liability — Employers owe a fiduciary responsibility to their employees when they provide 401(k) plans, which involves a a deep level of investment comprehension and responsibilities. If you work with an ERISA 3(38) Fiduciary provider to assist you with your small business's 401(k), much of that liability will be passed onto them.
- Ease of administration — When you offer your small business 401(k) plan with a 3(16) administrator, they'll take care of the vast majority of employee education, compliance, and administrative responsibilities on your behalf, so you can enjoy the rewards of offering a plan without much nuisance. Furthermore, advisors can help integrate contributions with your payroll system for further simplicity. If an employee moves to a new company, they can easily perform a 401(k) rollover to an IRA or new 401(k) without much hassle to you.
What 401(k) Plans Are Available to Small Businesses in Brentwood, MO?
Depending on your industry, your "small business" may have up to 1,500 employees, or it may just be yourself. 401(k) plans are available to all businesses, regardless of size:
401(k) Plans
In any 401(k) plan, employees can put funds into the account through payroll deductions. Most 401(k)s offer many different investment opportunities. Employers can employers can deposit an equal amount as their employees as an additional perk to employees. Most 401(k) plans must abide by strict nondiscrimination requirements, and undergo yearly tests to ensure the plan doesn't discriminate in favor of highly compensated employees. The IRS sets contribution limits each year; in 2023 that is $22,500, unless you are 50 or older, in which case the limit is $30,000.
Brentwood, MO employers with multiple employees have a few different options in how they set up their 401(k) plan:
- Traditional vs. Roth 401(k) Deferrals — Contributions made with a traditional deferral are taxed differently than with a Roth deferral. With a traditional deferral, contributions are tax-deferred, meaning the contributions are made before taxes are taken out, lowering an employee's taxable income. When the money is withdrawn it is taxed as ordinary income at the employee's tax rate at the time of withdrawal.
With Roth deferrals, contributions are made with after-tax dollars, meaning the money grows tax-free and the savings and any gains can be withdrawn tax-free, so long as the plan participant has been contributing for at least five years and is 59-½ years old when the withdrawal is made. Roth 401(k)s are becoming more popular as they decrease tax liability in retirement.
- Safe Harbor Provision — If you opt for this provision, as an employer you would be obligated to make contributions that are fully vested when made. To meet Safe Harbor requirements, you have four options:
- In a non-elective contribution, an employer must contribute 3% of each eligible employee's compensation to the plan, whether or not the employee chooses to themselves.
- With matching contributions, the employer must match 100% of each eligible employee's contributions up to 3% of their compensation, plus an additional 50% match on the next 2% of their compensation.
- Enhanced Safe Harbor plans provide a 100% employer match on up to 4% of an employee's compensation.
- In a Qualified Automatic Contribution Arrangement (QACA), employees are automatically enrolled in the plan and have a portion of their pay contributed to the plan unless they choose to opt out or contribute a different amount. The default contribution rate starts at 3% and increases by 1% annually until it maxes out at 6%, unless the employee chooses a different contribution rate.
In exchange for mandatory employer contributions, Safe Harbor plans are not subject to nondiscrimination testing.
Solo or Individual 401(k) Plan
These are are meant for people who are self-employed, or a business where the only employee is a spouse. Contributions are tax deductible and gains grow tax-deferred until the money is taken out. This type of retirement account allows individuals to make contributions both as an employer and as an employee, providing higher contribution limits than many other individual-based retirement plans. Unlike other 401(k) plans, individual 401(k)s are not subject to annual filings with the IRS unless the account balance is more than $250,000.
The "best" plan for your will depend on your business and employees. If you're interested in setting up a 401(k) plan for your small Brentwood, MO business, make an appointment with a member of our advisor team today to learn more about the benefits and options available to you.
How a Financial Advisor Can Help Your Brentwood, MO Small Business With Your 401(k) Plans
Even considering the benefits of a small business offering a 401(k) plan, some Brentwood, MO employers may still be cautious, as managing a 401(k) plan is complex and time-consuming. That’s where a financial advisor can help. Here are some some of the many ways that a financial advisor can help make your life easier in regards to your small business's 401(k) plan:
- Plan design — A few quick internet searches are a poor replacement for decades of experience and everyday interaction with retirement plans. Financial advisors can partner with small business owners to create a 401(k) plan meant specifically to benefit their company. They can help choose the plan that works best for you, set up contribution and matching formulas, and establish eligibility requirements.
- Initiating and managing a plan — There are numerous requirements you must follow when establishing your small business 401(k). You have to:
- Adopt a written plan document
- Arrange a trust fund for plan assets
- Establish a record keeping system
- Provide plan information to eligible employees
A financial advisory firm can do all of that for you, and handle the operation and annual reviews of your 401(k).
- Advertising your 401(k) plan to potential employees — The word "401(k)" might appear on a job listing in a list of benefits, but many in the job market don't know the full benefits a plan provides. We can connect the term "401(k)" to concrete steps to people living the golden years they always wanted.
- Investment selection — Financial advisors who are an Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®) and are qualified to perform portfolio management will be able to offer market insight, as well as work within investment concepts such as diversification, risk tolerance, and rebalancing to best position employees' savings for further growth.
- Employee education — Employees need to understand their plan in order to get the greatest reward from it. At Correct Capital, we can talk directly to your small business's employees so feel at ease with how their money is being held and invested.
- Compliance — Employers must abide by certain regulations when offering a 401(k) plan. Not following the rules correctly can lead to stiff fees. A financial advisor can help to ensure all of the proper rules are followed.
- Fiduciary duty — As a plan sponsor, small business owners have a fiduciary duty to act in the best interest of plan participants. We are ethically and legally mandated to do what's in your best interest, and in the best interest of your employees and their retirement accounts.
A financial advisor offers remarkable value to Brentwood, MO small business owners who are looking to create a 401(k) plan. By consulting with a financial advisor, small business owners can save on taxes and make their business more attractive to current and potential employees.
Call Correct Capital to Set Up a 401(k) For Your Small Business in Brentwood, MO
If you own a small business in Brentwood, MO, you want to spend your energy on what you do best and what you're passionate about – not being bogged down by retirement plan responsibilities you may or may not be knowledgeable about. As a Registered Investment Advisor with CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professionals, Correct Capital can both help position your and your employees' money for growth while giving you peace of mind that your small business's 401(k) plan is being operated efficiently and correctly. To start setting up a 401(k) for your small Brentwood, MO business today, call Correct Capital at 314-930-401(k) or contact us online.
