401 (k) for small business in Clayton, MO. Setting up a 401(k) plan for your small business in Clayton, MO provides numerous benefits to both you and the people that work for you, helping businesses stand out and provide a more secure to their employees. In addition to attracting top talent, offering a 401(k) plan can also help both businesses and employees lower their tax liability. However, some business owners might not be confident they want to move forward because of the time involved in setting up and maintaining an account, in addition to the complexities of investment and financial laws.
At Correct Capital Wealth Management, our Clayton, MO financial planners and retirement consultants help companies of all sizes offer customized and successful 401(k) plans. We do most of the work for you while you focus on making your business flourish. Call Correct Capital today at 314-930-401(k) or contact us online to learn more about establishing a 401(k) for your small business in Clayton, MO.
Benefits of Setting Up a 401(k) for Your Small Clayton, MO Business
Setting up and operating a 401(k) for a small business in Clayton, MO has numerous benefits, for employers, your employees, and your business goals alike:
- Attract and retain great employees — Offering retirement plans is an essential asset for recruiting and keeping accomplished talent, particularly if many Clayton, MO companies are hiring for the same position. One survey says 401(k) plans are the most important financial benefit to employees, 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 deductions — Both employers and employees can reduce their tax liability with a 401(k) plan. Matching contributions employers make are tax deductible to the extent that the contributions are not more than the yearly corporate tax deduction limit on employer contributions, as laid out in section 404 of the Internal Revenue Code. The federal government also offers tax credits for first-time 401(k) plans and offering automatic enrollment. Employee contributions reduce their taxable income 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 ultimately leads to more productivity.
- Reduced liability — Employers owe a fiduciary responsibility to their employees when they offer retirement plans, which involves a wide range of investment comprehension and obligations. If you work with an ERISA 3(38) Fiduciary provider to set up and operate your small business's 401(k), most of that liability will go to 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 benefit from the rewards of offering a plan without much nuisance. In addition, advisors can help with 401(k) payroll integration for further simplicity. If an employee moves to a new company, they can effortlessly perform a 401(k) rollover to a new retirement account without much hassle to you.
What 401(k) Plans Are Available to Small Businesses in Clayton, 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 money taken out of their paychecks. Most 401(k)s have a wide range of investments that may include mutual funds, index funds, bonds, and company stock. Employers can employers can deposit an equal amount as their employees as an additional perk to employees. Most 401(k) plans must adhere to stringent nondiscrimination requirements, and undergo yearly tests to ensure they remain compliant. The IRS sets contribution limits each year; in 2023 the limit is $22,500, unless you are 50 or older, in which case you can deposit an additional $7,500 as a catch-up contribution.
Clayton, MO employers with multiple employees have a few different considerations to make when setting up their 401(k) plan:
- Traditional vs. Roth 401(k) Deferrals — The main difference between traditional and Roth deferrals is when your employees pay taxes on their contributions. With a traditional deferral, contributions are tax-deferred, meaning the money is deposited before taxes are taken out, lowering an employee's taxable income. Taxes are paid when the money is withdrawn.
With Roth deferrals, contributions are made with money the employee's already paid taxes on, meaning the money grows tax-free and there are no taxes when the money's withdrawn, so long as the plan participant has been contributing for at least five years and is 59-½ years old when the money is taken out. Roth 401(k)s are becoming more popular as they reduce tax liability in retirement.
- Safe Harbor Provision — If you opt for this provision, as an employer you would be required to make contributions that are fully vested when made. There are four ways in which an employer can contribute:
- 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 decide not to. The default contribution rate starts at 3% and increases by 1% annually until it maxes out at 6%, unless the employee decides on 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
Solo and Individual 401(k) plans are are meant for people who are self-employed, or businesses where the only employees are spouses. Contributions are tax deductible and earnings grow tax-deferred until the money is taken out. This allows participants to save more as they can make contributions both as a worker and a businesses owner. Unlike other 401(k) plans, individual 401(k)s do not require annual filings with the IRS unless the account balance is more than $250,000.
What plan works best for your and your employees depends on your business and employees. If you're thinking of establishing a 401(k) plan for your small Clayton, MO business, schedule an appointment with one of our advisers today to get started.
How a Financial Advisor Can Help Small Clayton, MO Businesses With Their 401(k) Plans
Even considering the great things a 401(k) plan can do for a small business, some Clayton, MO employers might still be cautious, as they may not have the know-how, time, or interest to establish and operate a plan. That’s where we come in. Here are some some of the many ways that our advisory firm can help make your life easier in regards to your small business's 401(k) plan:
- Plan design — A handful of detailed Google searches are a poor replacement for years of experience and working on retirement plans every day. Financial advisors can partner with small business owners to develop a 401(k) plan meant specifically to benefit them. They can help choose the plan that most benefits you, set up contribution and matching formulas, and establish eligibility requirements.
- Setting up and operating a plan — There are specific steps you must take when establishing your small business 401(k). You have to:
- Adopt a written plan document
- Arrange a trust fund for plan assets
- Develop a record keeping system
- Provide plan information to eligible employees
A financial advisory firm can assist with all of the above requirements, and manage the operation and yearly reviews of your 401(k).
- Advertising your 401(k) plan to those in the job market — The term "401(k)" might appear on a job ad in a list of benefits, but many in the job market don't know the full benefits a plan provides. We can connect the phrase "401(k)" to specific images of a more secure retirement, with very clear stepping stones on how to get there.
- Investment selection — Financial advisors who are an Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®) and are well versed in portfolio management will be able to offer investment insight, as well as work within investment concepts such as diversification, risk tolerance, and rebalancing to optimally position employees' funds for further growth.
- Employee education — The more an employee understands their 401(k) plan, the more it will benefit them. At Correct Capital, we can speak directly to your small business's employees so feel at ease with the status of their retirement savings.
- Compliance — Employers must adhere to various rules and contribution limits when offering a 401(k) plan. Not following them can lead to stiff fees. A financial advisor can help to ensure all of the proper rules are followed.
- Fiduciary duty — When offering a retirement plan, small business owners have a fiduciary duty to act in the best interest of their employees. We are morally and legally bound to do what's in your best interest, and in the best interest of your employees and their retirement accounts.
A financial advisor can provide significant value to Clayton, MO small business owners who want to experience the benefits of a 401(k) plan. By partnering 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 Start a 401(k) For Your Small Business in Clayton, MO
If you own a small business in Clayton, MO, you want to focus on why you started your business – not being distracted 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 Clayton, MO business today, call Correct Capital at 314-930-401(k) or contact us online.
