401(k) for small business in Creve Coeur, MO. Initiating a 401(k) plan for your small business in Creve Coeur, MO can offer various benefits to both you and the people that work for you, helping businesses stand out and provide long-term financial security 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 sure if they want to move forward because of the time commitment, as well as the complexities of investment and financial laws.
At Correct Capital Wealth Management, our Creve Coeur, 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 take the heavy financial lifting off your plate, so you can focus on growing your business while we focus on growing your and your employees' savings. Call Correct Capital today at 877-930-4015 or fill out our online form to get started with establishing a 401(k) for your small business in Creve Coeur, MO.
Why You Should Up a 401(k) for Your Small Creve Coeur, MO Business
Setting up and maintaining a 401(k) for a small business in Creve Coeur, MO can do wonders for you, your employees, and your business's bottom line:
- recruit and keep top talent — Providing retirement plans can be an essential tool for recruiting and keeping top talent, particularly if many Creve Coeur, MO companies are hiring for the same job. Employees see a 401(k) as a valuable benefit, and offering one can help differentiate your business from competitors, especially if they are offered to people beyond the highest earners.
- Tax benefits — Both employers and employees can benefit from tax advantages with a 401(k) plan. Matching contributions employers make are tax deductible to the extent that the contributions do not exceed the annual corporate tax deduction limit on employer contributions, which is 25% of covered payroll. There are also several 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 401(k) plan allows employees to save for retirement through automatic contributions deducted from their paychecks. Greater financial security ultimately leads to a more productive workforce.
- Decreased liability — Employers assume a fiduciary responsibility to their employees when they offer retirement plans, which involves a a deep level of investment understanding and obligations. If you partner with an ERISA 3(38) Fiduciary advisor to initiate and operate your small business's 401(k), most of that liability will go to them.
- Simple administration — When you offer your small business 401(k) plan with a 3(16) administrator, they'll manage the vast majority of employee education, compliance, and administrative tasks for you, so you can enjoy the rewards of offering a plan without putting in too much work yourself. Additionally, advisors can help integrate contributions with your payroll system 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 you having to do much work.
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Correct Capital Wealth Management's office is physically located in St. Louis, MO, but we serve clients throughout the United States in both personal financial planning and corporate retirement plans.
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Types of 401(k) Plans That Can Help Your Small Business in Creve Coeur, MO
Small businesses, depending on what type of company they are, can have anywhere from one to 1,500 employees. 401(k) plans are available to all businesses, regardless of size:
401(k) Plans
In any 401(k) plan, employees can put savings into the account through payroll deductions. Most 401(k)s offer a diversity 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 added perk to employees. Most 401(k) plans must meet rigid nondiscrimination requirements, and undergo annual 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.
Creve Coeur, 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. 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 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 reduce tax liability in retirement.
- Safe Harbor Provision — If you decide to set up a Safe Harbor 401(k), as a business owner you would be obligated to make fully vested contributions to your employees' accounts. 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, regardless of whether the employee decides to contribute to the plan.
- 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 money is taken out of their paycheck unless they choose to opt out or contribute a different amount. The automatic contribution rate starts at 3% and increases by 1% every year until it maxes out at 6%, unless the employee decides on 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 are meant for owner-only businesses, or businesses where the only employees are spouses. Contributions are tax deductible and the money is taxed when it's withdrawn. This allows participants to save more as they can make contributions both as an employee and a businesses owner. Unlike other 401(k) plans, individual 401(k)s are not subject to 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 your and your employees' needs. If you're thinking of establishing a 401(k) plan for your small Creve Coeur, MO business, schedule a meeting with a member of our advisor team today to find out more about the benefits and options available to you.
How a Financial Advisor Can Help Your Creve Coeur, MO Small Business With Your 401(k) Plans
Even considering the benefits of a small business offering a 401(k) plan, some Creve Coeur, MO employers might still be wary, as they may not have the knowledge, time, or interest to establish and operate a plan. That’s where a financial advisor can help. Here are some ways that a financial advisor can assist with your small business’s 401(k) plan:
- Plan design — A few quick internet searches are a poor replacement for years of experience and working on retirement plans every day. 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 right type of plan, set up contribution and matching formulas, and establish eligibility requirements.
- Initiating and operating a plan — There are numerous requirements you must follow when establishing your small business 401(k). You must:
- Adopt a written plan document
- Arrange a trust fund for plan assets
- Establish a record keeping system
- Provide plan information to participant
A financial advisory firm can do all of that for you, and oversee the operation and annual reviews of your 401(k).
- Marketing your 401(k) plan to those in the job market — The word "401(k)" might show up on a job listing in a list of benefits, but many in the job market don't fully understand what a 401(k) can do for them. We can connect the words "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 qualified to perform portfolio management will be able to provide investment insight, as well as work within investment principles such as diversification, risk tolerance, and rebalancing to best position employees' money for further growth.
- Employee education — The more an employee understands their 401(k) plan, the more it will help them. At Correct Capital, we can talk directly to your small business's 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 fines. 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 responsibility to act in the best interest of their employees. We are morally and legally obligated to do what's in your best interest, and in the best interest of your employees and their retirement accounts.
A financial advisor offers significant value to Creve Coeur, MO small business owners who are looking to set up a 401(k) plan. By consulting with a financial advisor, small business owners can provide a valuable benefit to their employees while also managing risk and ensuring the plan’s long-term success.
Call Correct Capital to Set Up a 401(k) For Your Small Business in Creve Coeur, MO
If you own a small business in Creve Coeur, MO, you want to focus on why you started your business – not being distracted by retirement plan responsibilities you may not have the time, knowledge, or interest to manage. 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 Creve Coeur, MO business today, call Correct Capital at 877-930-4015 or contact us online.
