401 (k) for small business in Fenton, MO. Setting up a 401(k) plan for your small business in Fenton, MO can offer various benefits to both you and the people that work for you, helping businesses offer more security and benefits to people in the job market. Beyond just offering more benefits than competitors, providing a 401(k) plan can also help both businesses and employees lower their tax liability. However, some business owners may still be wary because of the time commitment, as well as the complexities of investment and financial laws.
At Correct Capital Wealth Management, our Fenton, MO financial planners and retirement consultants work with companies large and small to offer customized and successful 401(k) plans. We take the heavy financial lifting off your plate 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 Fenton, MO.
Why You Should Up a 401(k) for Your Small Fenton, MO Business
Setting up and maintaining a 401(k) for a small business in Fenton, MO can do wonders for employers, your workers, and your business's bottom line:
- recruit and keep great talent — Offering a 401(k) plan can be an important tool for recruiting and keeping top talent, particularly if many Fenton, MO companies are hiring for the same job. 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 they are offered to people beyond management.
- 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 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 tax liability and their contributions grow tax free.
- Increased financial security for employees — A retirement account allows employees to feel better about how they'll live in retirement. Greater financial security eventually leads to more productivity.
- Decreased liability — Employers owe a fiduciary responsibility to their employees when they offer retirement plans, which involves a wide range of investment understanding and responsibilities. If you partner with an ERISA 3(38) Fiduciary provider to assist you with 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 lion's share of employee education, compliance, and administrative duties on your behalf, so you can reap the rewards of offering a plan without putting in too much work yourself. Furthermore, 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 an IRA or new 401(k) without much hassle to you.
What 401(k) Plans Are Available to Small Businesses in Fenton, MO?
Depending on your industry, your "small business" may have up to 1,500 employees, or it may just be yourself. However many employees you have, there is a 401(k) plan that will work for you:
401(k) Plans
In any 401(k) plan, employees can put savings into the account through payroll deductions. Most 401(k)s offer a wide range of investment opportunities. Employers can employers can deposit an equal amount as their employees as an added perk to employees. Most 401(k) plans must abide by stringent nondiscrimination requirements, and undergo annual tests to ensure they remain compliant. The IRS sets 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.
Fenton, 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 it is pre-tax money, lowering an employee's taxable income. When the money is withdrawn it is taxed as ordinary income at the plan participant'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 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 decide to set up a Safe Harbor 401(k), as an employer 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 chooses 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 decide not to. The automatic contribution rate starts at 3% and increases by 1% each year until it maxes out at 6%, unless the employee decides on a different contribution rate.
Because you are required to make contributions, your business would not be subject to nondiscrimination testing.
Solo or Individual 401(k) Plan
Solo and Individual 401(k) plans are intended for people who are self-employed, or a business where the only employee is a spouse. Contributions can be deducted from taxable income and gains grow tax-deferred until the money is taken out. This allows participants to make higher contributions as they can make contributions both as an employee and an employer. 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.
The "best" plan for your will depend on your business and your and your employees' needs. If you're thinking of establishing a 401(k) plan for your small Fenton, MO business, schedule an appointment with a member of our team today to get started.
How a Financial Advisor Can Help Small Fenton, MO Businesses With Their 401(k) Plans
Even considering the benefits of a small business offering a 401(k) plan, some Fenton, MO employers may still be uneasy, 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 our advisory firm can help make your life easier in regards to your small business's 401(k) plan:
- Plan design — A few detailed Google searches are a poor replacement for decades of experience and everyday interaction with retirement plans. Financial advisors can work with small business owners to develop 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.
- Setting up and operating a plan — There are numerous requirements you must follow when beginning 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 participant
A financial advisory firm can do all of that for you, and manage the operation and annual reviews of the plan.
- Marketing your 401(k) plan to prospective employees — The term "401(k)" might show up on a job ad in a list of benefits, but many in the job market don't fully understand what a 401(k) entails. We can bridge the words "401(k)" to specific 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 provide investment 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 — 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 they're confident with how their money is being held and invested.
- Compliance — Employers must abide by certain regulations when offering a 401(k) plan. Not following them can lead to harsh 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 with diligence, prudence, and care. We are ethically 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 Fenton, 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 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 Fenton, MO
If you own a small business in Fenton, MO, you want to focus on why you started your business – 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 Fenton, MO business today, call Correct Capital at 314-930-401(k) or contact us online.
