401 (k) for small business in Concord, MO. Establishing a 401(k) plan for your small business in Concord, MO can offer various benefits to both you and the people that work for you, helping businesses offer more security and benefits to prospective employees. Beyond just offering more benefits than competitors, offering a 401(k) plan can also help both businesses and employees lower their tax liability. But, some business owners might not be sure if they want to move forward because of the time commitment, in addition to the intricate web of regulations, laws, and investment opportunities available.
At Correct Capital Wealth Management, our Concord, MO financial advisors and retirement consultants work with companies large and small to offer 401(k) plans that fit their business and provide stability for their employees. We do the financial and administrative work for you, so you can spend your energy on growing your business while we focus on growing your and your employees' savings. Call Correct Capital today at 314-930-401(k) or complete our online form to get started with setting up a 401(k) for your small business in Concord, MO.
Do I Need a 401(k) For My Concord, MO Small Business?
Setting up and maintaining a 401(k) for a small business in Concord, MO has numerous benefits, for you, your workers, and your business's bottom line:
- Attract and retain top employees — Offering retirement plans is a valuable tool for recruiting and retaining high-performing workers, particularly in a competitive Concord, MO job market. Some employees will even quit their job over a 401(k), and offering one can help your business stand out, 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 from employers are tax deductible up to the annual 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 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 provide retirement plans, which involves a wide range of investment understanding and responsibilities. If you work with an ERISA 3(38) Fiduciary advisor to assist you with your small business's 401(k), much of that fiduciary duty will go to them.
- Ease of administration — When you parter with a 3(16) administrator to set up your small business 401(k) plan, they'll take care of the lion's share of employee education, compliance, and administrative responsibilities for you, so you can reap the rewards of offering a plan without putting in too much work yourself. In addition, advisors can help integrate contributions with your payroll system for further simplicity. If an employee moves to a new job elsewhere, they can effortlessly rollover their 401(k) to an IRA or new 401(k) without much hassle to you.
What 401(k) Plans Are Available to Small Businesses in Concord, MO?
Depending on what industry you're in, 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 how many employees they have:
401(k) Plans
In any 401(k) plan, employees can contribute through money taken out of their paychecks. Most 401(k)s have many different investments that may include mutual funds, index funds, bonds, and company stock. Employers can make matching contributions as an additional perk to employees. Most 401(k) plans must abide by stringent nondiscrimination requirements, and perform 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 turn 50 or older this year, in which case you can contribute an additional $7,500 as a catch-up contribution.
Concord, MO companies 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 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 increasingly popular as they reduce tax liability in retirement.
- Safe Harbor Provision — If you decide to set up a Safe Harbor 401(k), as an employer you would be required to make fully vested contributions to your employees' plans. To meet Safe Harbor requirements, you have four possible ways to contribute:
- In a non-elective contribution, an employer must contribute 3% of each eligible employee's compensation to the plan, regardless of whether the employee decides 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% every year until it reaches a maximum of 6%, unless the employee elects a different contribution rate.
Because you are required to make contributions, your company would not be subject to nondiscrimination testing.
Solo or Individual 401(k) Plan
These are intended for owner-only businesses, or a business where the only employee is a spouse. Contributions can be deducted from taxable income and gains grow tax-deferred until withdrawn. This allows participants to make higher contributions as they can make contributions both as a worker and an employer. Unlike other 401(k) plans, individual 401(k)s do not require annual filings with the IRS unless the account balance surpasses $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 Concord, MO business, schedule a meeting with one of our advisers today to get started.
How a Financial Advisor Can Help Small Concord, MO Businesses With Their 401(k) Plans
Even considering the benefits of a small business offering a 401(k) plan, some Concord, MO employers might still be wary, 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 ways that our advisory firm can assist with your small business’s 401(k) plan:
- Plan design — A handful of quick internet searches are a poor replacement for decades of experience and everyday interaction with retirement plans. Financial advisors can work with small business owners to create a 401(k) plan that meets the specific needs of their business and employees. They can help choose the plan that most benefits you, set up contribution and matching formulas, and establish eligibility requirements.
- Initiating and operating a plan — There are specific steps you must take when establishing your small business 401(k). You must:
- 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 do all of that for you, and handle the operation and yearly reviews of the plan.
- Advertising your 401(k) plan to those in the job market — The phrase "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 bridge the phrase "401(k)" to definite steps to people living the golden years of their dreams.
- Investment selection — Financial advisors who are an Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®) and are well versed in portfolio management will be able to offer market insight, as well as work within investment principles 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 offer both group classes and one-on-one counseling sessions with our small business clients' employees so they're confident with the status of their retirement savings.
- Compliance — 401(k) plans have different rules and contribution limits. 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 — When offering a retirement plan, small business owners have a fiduciary duty to act with diligence, prudence, and care. 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 Concord, MO small business owners who are looking to create a 401(k) plan. By working 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 Concord, MO
If you own a small business in Concord, MO, you want to spend your time on what you do best and what you're passionate about – 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 Concord, MO business today, call Correct Capital at 314-930-401(k) or contact us online.
