401(k) for small business in Olivette, MO. Establishing a 401(k) plan for your small business in Olivette, MO provides numerous benefits to both you and the people that work for you, helping businesses offer more security and benefits to prospective employees. In addition to attracting great employees, offering a 401(k) plan also offers numerous tax benefits for both employers and employees. But, some business owners might not be confident they want to move forward because of the time commitment, as well as the complexities of investment and financial regulations.
At Correct Capital Wealth Management, our Olivette, MO financial advisors and retirement consultants help companies of all sizes offer 401(k) plans that fit what their business needs and what their employees want. We do most of the work for you while you focus on making your business thrive. Call Correct Capital today at 877-930-4015 or complete our online form to get started with establishing a 401(k) for your small business in Olivette, MO.
Should I Establish a 401(k) For My Olivette, MO Small Business?
Establishing and operating a 401(k) for a small business in Olivette, MO can do wonders for you, your workers, and your business's bottom line:
- Attract and keep great talent — Providing retirement plans can be a valuable asset for attracting and keeping top talent, particularly if many Olivette, 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 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 surpass the annual corporate tax deduction limit on employer contributions, as defined 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. Employees enjoy tax-deferred contributions and potentially reduce their taxable income.
- Increased financial security for employees — A retirement account allows employees to save for retirement through automatic contributions deducted from their paychecks. Greater financial security ultimately leads to a more productive workforce.
- Reduced liability — Employers owe a fiduciary duty to their employees when they provide retirement plans, which involves a wide range of investment knowledge and obligations. If you work with an ERISA 3(38) Fiduciary advisor to assist you with your small business's 401(k), most of that fiduciary duty will be passed onto them.
- Simple 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 tasks on your behalf, so you can benefit from 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 easily rollover their 401(k) to an IRA or new 401(k) without you having to do much work.
What 401(k) Plans Are Available to Small Businesses in Olivette, 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 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 offer many different investment options. Employers can make matching contributions as an additional benefit to employees. Most 401(k) plans must abide by rigid nondiscrimination requirements, and undergo yearly tests to ensure they remain compliant. The IRS mandates contribution limits each year; in 2023 that is $22,500, unless you turn 50 or older this year, in which case you can deposit an additional $7,500 as a catch-up contribution.
Olivette, 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 money is deposited before taxes are taken out, and the employee can then deduct the amount deposited from their taxable income. Taxes are paid when the money is withdrawn.
With Roth deferrals, contributions are made with after-tax dollars, meaning the money grows tax-free and there are no taxes when the money's withdrawn, so 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 more popular as they allow plan participants to diversify their tax exposure in retirement.
- Safe Harbor Provision — If you opt for this provision, as an employer you would be obligated to make fully vested contributions to your employees' plans. 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 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 percentage of their pay contributed to the plan unless they decide not to. The automatic contribution rate starts at 3% and increases by 1% every year until it maxes out at 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 make higher contributions 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 opening a 401(k) plan for your small Olivette, MO business, make an appointment with a member of our advisor team today to get started.
How a Financial Advisor Can Help Your Olivette, MO Small Business With Your 401(k) Plans
Given the great things a 401(k) plan can do for a small business, some Olivette, MO employers may still be uneasy, 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 our advisory firm can assist with your small business’s 401(k) plan:
- Plan design — A few detailed Google searches can't come close to offering the same degree of skill and experience as a licensed advisory firm. Financial advisors can work with small business owners to design 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 managing a plan — There are numerous requirements you must adhere to when initiating 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 oversee the operation and yearly reviews of the plan.
- Advertising 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 know the full benefits a plan provides. We can bridge the term "401(k)" to specific images of a more secure retirement, with a clear road map of 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 principles such as diversification, risk tolerance, and rebalancing to best position employees' funds for further growth.
- Employee education — Employees need to understand their plan in order to get the greatest reward from it. 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 — 401(k) plans have different rules and contribution limits. Not following the rules correctly can lead to harsh penalties. A financial advisor can help to ensure your recordkeeper and plan administrator do not accidentally break with the regulations.
- Fiduciary duty — As a plan sponsor, small business owners have a fiduciary duty to act with diligence, prudence, and care. We are ethically and legally obligated to do what's in your best interest, and in the best interest of your employees and their savings.
A financial advisor can provide considerable value to Olivette, MO small business owners who are looking to set up 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 prospective employees.
Call Correct Capital to Set Up a 401(k) For Your Small Business in Olivette, MO
If you own a small business in Olivette, 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 Olivette, MO business today, call Correct Capital at 877-930-4015 or contact us online.
