401(k) for small business in Shrewsbury, MO. Setting up a 401(k) plan for your small business in Shrewsbury, MO can offer numerous 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 also provides numerous tax benefits for both employers and employees. However, some business owners might not be confident they want to proceed because of the time involved in establishing and maintaining an account, as well as the intricate web of regulations, laws, and investment opportunities available.
At Correct Capital Wealth Management, our Shrewsbury, MO financial advisors and retirement consultants work with companies large and small to offer customized and successful 401(k) plans. We do the financial and administrative 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 Shrewsbury, MO.
Do I Need a 401(k) For My Shrewsbury, MO Small Business?
Setting up and maintaining a 401(k) for a small business in Shrewsbury, MO has numerous benefits, for employers, your workers, and your business goals alike:
- recruit and keep top employees — Providing a 401(k) plan can be a valuable tool for attracting and keeping high-performing talent, especially in a competitive Shrewsbury, MO 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 they are offered to people beyond management.
- Tax deductions — Both employers and employees can reduce how much they owe in taxes with a 401(k) plan. Matching contributions employers make are tax deductible to the extent that the contributions do not surpass the yearly corporate tax deduction limit on employer contributions, as defined in section 404 of the Internal Revenue Code. The federal government also offers tax credits when companies first set up a 401(k) plan, and if the employer offers automatic enrollment. Employee contributions reduce their tax liability and their contributions grow tax free.
- Increased employee retirement savings — A retirement account allows employees to feel more confident about how they'll spend their golden years. Greater financial security eventually leads to a more productive workforce.
- Decreased liability — Employers take on a fiduciary duty to their employees when they provide retirement plans, which involves a a deep level of investment knowledge and obligations. If you work with an ERISA 3(38) Fiduciary provider to set up and operate your small business's 401(k), most of that liability will be placed on them.
- Simple administration — When you offer your small business 401(k) plan with a 3(16) administrator, they'll take care of the critical tasks of employee education, compliance, and administrative tasks for you, so you can reap the rewards of offering a plan without much hassle. Moreover, advisors can help with 401(k) payroll integration for further simplicity. If an employee moves to a new company, they can effortlessly rollover their 401(k) to a new retirement account without much hassle to you.
Types of 401(k) Plans That Can Help Your Small Business in Shrewsbury, 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 contribute through money taken out of their paychecks. Most 401(k)s have many different investment options. Employers can make matching contributions as an added benefit to employees. Most 401(k) plans must adhere to rigid nondiscrimination requirements, and perform annual tests to ensure the plan doesn't discriminate in favor of highly compensated employees. The IRS mandates contribution limits each year; in 2023 that is $22,500, unless you are 50 or older, in which case you can contribute an additional $7,500 as a catch-up contribution.
Shrewsbury, 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 — The main difference between traditional and Roth deferrals is the tax benefits. With a traditional deferral, contributions are tax-deferred, meaning it is pre-tax money, lowering an employee's 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 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 more popular as they allow plan participants to diversify their tax exposure in retirement.
- Safe Harbor Provision — If you opt for this provision, 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 have a part 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% annually until it reaches a maximum of 6%, unless the employee decides on a different contribution rate.
In exchange for required employer contributions, Safe Harbor plans are not 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 businesses where the only employees are spouses. Contributions are tax deductible and the money is taxed when it's withdrawn. This type of retirement account allows individuals to make contributions both as an employer and as an employee, providing higher contribution limits than many other individual-based retirement plans. 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 your and your employees' needs. If you're considering establishing a 401(k) plan for your small Shrewsbury, MO business, schedule a meeting with a member of our advisor team today to get started.
How a Financial Advisor Can Help Small Shrewsbury, MO Businesses With Their 401(k) Plans
Given the benefits of a small business offering a 401(k) plan, some Shrewsbury, 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 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 level of skill and experience as a licensed advisory firm. Financial advisors can partner 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 works best for you, set up contribution and matching formulas, and establish eligibility requirements.
- Initiating 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 eligible employees
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 appear on a job listing 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 concrete 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 concepts such as diversification, risk tolerance, and rebalancing to best position employees' funds 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 speak directly to your small business's employees so feel good about with how their money is being held and invested.
- Compliance — Employers must abide by certain regulations when offering a 401(k) plan. Not following the rules correctly can lead to harsh 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 responsibility to act in the best interest of their employees. 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 offers remarkable value to Shrewsbury, 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 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 Shrewsbury, MO
If you own a small business in Shrewsbury, MO, you want to focus on why you started your business – not being distracted by administrative tasks 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 Shrewsbury, MO business today, call Correct Capital at 877-930-4015 or contact us online.
