401(k) for small business in Fairview Heights, IL. Initiating a 401(k) plan for your small business in Fairview Heights, IL can offer various benefits to both employers and employees, 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 reduce their tax liability. But, some business owners might not be sure if they want to proceed because of the time commitment, in addition to the intricate web of regulations, laws, and investment opportunities available.
At Correct Capital Wealth Management, our Fairview Heights, IL financial planners 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 focus on growing your business while we focus on growing your and your employees' retirement accounts. Call Correct Capital today at 314-930-401(k) or contact us online to get started with creating a 401(k) for your small business in Fairview Heights, IL.
Should I Establish a 401(k) For My Fairview Heights, IL Small Business?
Establishing and maintaining a 401(k) for a small business in Fairview Heights, IL has numerous benefits, for you, your workers, and your business's bottom line:
- Attract and keep top employees — Providing retirement plans can be a valuable tool for recruiting and keeping top talent, especially in a competitive Fairview Heights, IL job market. One survey says 401(k) plans are the most important financial benefit to employees, and offering one can help your business stand out, especially if you offer 401(k)s to rank-and-file employees as well.
- Tax benefits — Both businesses and employees can benefit from tax advantages with a 401(k) plan. Matching contributions from employers are tax deductible up to the yearly corporate tax deduction limit on employer contributions, which is 25% of covered payroll. There are also several tax credits when employers first set up a 401(k) plan, and if the employer offers automatic enrollment. Employees enjoy tax-deferred contributions and potentially reduce their taxable income.
- Increased employee retirement savings — A retirement account allows employees to feel better about how they'll live in retirement. 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 obligations. If you partner with an ERISA 3(38) Fiduciary advisor to establish and manage your small business's 401(k), most of that fiduciary duty will be passed onto them.
- Ease of administration — When you parter with a 3(16) administrator to administer your small business 401(k) plan, they'll handle the critical tasks of employee education, compliance, and administrative responsibilities on your behalf, so you can reap the rewards of offering a plan without putting in too much work yourself. Additionally, 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 you having to do much work.
Types of 401(k) Plans For Your Small Business in Fairview Heights, IL
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 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 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 abide by rigid nondiscrimination requirements, and undergo yearly tests to ensure the plan doesn't favor highly compensated employees. The IRS mandates contribution limits each year; in 2023 the limit is $22,500, unless you turn 50 or older this year, in which case the limit is $30,000.
Fairview Heights, IL businesses with multiple employees have a few different considerations to make when setting 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, and the employee can then deduct the amount deposited from their 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 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, as long as the plan participant has had the account for 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 opt for this provision, as an employer you would be obligated 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, 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 have a percentage 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% each year until it reaches a maximum of 6%, unless the employee chooses 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
Solo and Individual 401(k) plans are are meant for owner-only businesses, or businesses where the only employees are spouses. Contributions can be deducted from taxable income and the money is taxed when it's withdrawn. This allows participants to save more as they can make contributions both as a worker and an employer. 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.
The "best" plan for your will depend on your business and employees. If you're thinking of establishing a 401(k) plan for your small Fairview Heights, IL business, schedule an appointment 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 Small Fairview Heights, IL Businesses With Their 401(k) Plans
Even considering the great things a 401(k) plan can do for a small business, some Fairview Heights, IL employers may still be wary, as they may not have the knowledge, time, or interest to establish and operate a plan. That’s where we come in. Here are some some of the many ways that a financial advisor can assist with your small business’s 401(k) plan:
- Plan design — A few detailed Google searches are a poor replacement for years of experience and everyday interaction with retirement plans. Financial advisors can work with small business owners to create a 401(k) plan meant expressly to benefit them. They can help choose the plan that works best for you, set up contribution and matching formulas, and establish eligibility requirements.
- Establishing and managing a plan — There are specific steps you must take when initiating 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 assist with all of the above requirements, and handle the operation and annual 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 as a bullet point, but many in the job market don't know the full benefits a plan provides. We can connect the term "401(k)" to definite 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 offer market insight, as well as work within investment principles such as diversification, risk tolerance, and rebalancing to optimally 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 offer both group classes and one-on-one counseling sessions with our small business clients' employees so feel at ease with how their money is being held and invested.
- Compliance — Employers must adhere to certain regulations when offering a 401(k) plan. Not following them can lead to harsh fees. A financial advisor can help to ensure your recordkeeper and plan administrator do not accidentally fail to comply with a requirement.
- Fiduciary responsibility — 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 savings.
A financial advisor can provide remarkable value to Fairview Heights, IL small business owners who are looking to establish 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 prospective employees.
Call Correct Capital to Start a 401(k) For Your Small Business in Fairview Heights, IL
If you own a small business in Fairview Heights, IL, 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 Fairview Heights, IL business today, call Correct Capital at 314-930-401(k) or contact us online.
