401(k) for small business in Town and Country, MO. Initiating a 401(k) plan for your small business in Town and Country, MO provides 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 lower their tax liability. But, 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 Town and Country, 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, so you can focus on growing your business while we focus on growing your and your employees' retirement accounts. Speak to a Correct Capital team member today at 314-930-401(k) or fill out our online form to learn more about setting up a 401(k) for your small business in Town and Country, MO.
Should I Establish a 401(k) For My Town and Country, MO Small Business?
Establishing and operating a 401(k) for a small business in Town and Country, MO has numerous benefits, for employers, your workers, and your business goals alike:
- recruit and keep great talent — Providing a 401(k) plan can be an essential asset for recruiting and keeping skilled talent, especially in a competitive Town and Country, 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 you offer 401(k)s to rank-and-file employees as well.
- Tax benefits — Both businesses and employees can reduce their tax liability with a 401(k) plan. Matching contributions employers make are tax deductible up to the annual corporate tax deduction limit on employer contributions, as stipulated in section 404 of the Internal Revenue Code. There are also several tax credits for first-time 401(k) plans and offering automatic enrollment. Employees can benefit from 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 more productivity.
- Decreased liability — Employers owe a fiduciary responsibility to their employees when they offer 401(k) plans, which involves a a deep level of investment savvy and obligations. If you partner with an ERISA 3(38) Fiduciary provider to establish and operate your small business's 401(k), the bulk of that liability will be passed onto 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 duties on your behalf, so you can enjoy the rewards of offering a plan without much hassle. Furthermore, advisors can help integrate contributions with your payroll system for further simplicity. If an employee takes a new job elsewhere, they can effortlessly perform a 401(k) rollover to an IRA or new 401(k) without you having to do much work.
What 401(k) Plans Are Available to Small Businesses in Town and Country, MO?
Depending on what industry you're in, 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 contribute through payroll deductions. Most 401(k)s offer a wide range of investment opportunities. Employers can make matching contributions as an additional benefit to employees. Most 401(k) plans must abide by rigid nondiscrimination requirements, and undergo 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 deposit an additional $7,500 as a catch-up contribution.
Town and Country, MO businesses with multiple employees have a few different options in how they set up their 401(k) plan:
- Traditional vs. Roth 401(k) Deferrals — The key difference between traditional and Roth deferrals is the tax benefits. With a traditional deferral, contributions are tax-deferred, meaning it is pre-tax money, and the employee can then deduct the amount contributed from their 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 had the account for five years and is 59-½ years old when the withdrawal is made. Roth 401(k)s are becoming increasingly popular as they allow employees 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' accounts. 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 chooses 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% each year until it reaches a maximum of 6%, unless the employee elects 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 are meant for owner-only businesses, or a business where the only employee is a spouse. Contributions are tax deductible and gains grow tax-deferred until withdrawn. This allows participants to make higher contributions as they can make contributions both as an employee 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 surpasses $250,000.
What plan works best for your and your employees depends on your business and employees. If you're interested in opening a 401(k) plan for your small Town and Country, MO business, schedule a meeting with one of our advisers today to get started.
How a Financial Advisor Can Help Small Town and Country, MO Businesses With Their 401(k) Plans
Given the benefits of a small business offering a 401(k) plan, some Town and Country, MO employers might still be uneasy, as they may not have the know-how, 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 help make your life easier in regards to your small business's 401(k) plan:
- Plan design — A handful of quick internet searches can't come close to offering the same degree of skill and experience as a professional retirement consultant. 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.
- Establishing and operating 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
- Establish a record keeping system
- Provide plan information to eligible employees
A financial advisory firm can assist with all of the above requirements, and manage the operation and annual reviews of your 401(k).
- Marketing your 401(k) plan to those in the job market — The phrase "401(k)" might show up on a job ad as a bullet point, but many in the job market don't fully understand what a 401(k) entails. We can bridge the term "401(k)" to specific steps to people living the golden years they always wanted.
- 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' savings 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 good about 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 penalties. 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 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 remarkable value to Town and Country, MO small business owners who are looking to establish 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 Establish a 401(k) For Your Small Business in Town and Country, MO
If you own a small business in Town and Country, MO, you want to spend your energy on what you do best and what you're passionate about – 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 Town and Country, MO business today, call Correct Capital at 314-930-401(k) or contact us online.
