401(k) for small business in University City, MO. Creating a 401(k) plan for your small business in University City, MO provides various benefits to both you and the people that work for you, helping businesses stand out and provide a more secure to their employees. In addition to offering more benefits than competitors, 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 involved in setting up and operating a plan, in addition to the complex web of regulations, laws, and investment options available.
At Correct Capital Wealth Management, our University City, MO financial advisors 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 spend your energy on growing your business while we focus on growing your and your employees' savings. Call Correct Capital today at 314-930-401(k) or contact us online to learn more about setting up a 401(k) for your small business in University City, MO.
Why You Should Up a 401(k) for Your Small University City, MO Business
Setting up and operating a 401(k) for a small business in University City, MO has numerous benefits, for employers, your employees, and your business's bottom line:
- recruit and retain top talent — Offering retirement plans is an important asset for attracting and keeping high-performing employees, particularly in a competitive University City, MO job market. Some employees will even quit their job over a 401(k), and offering one can help differentiate your business from competitors, especially if they are offered to people beyond the highest earners.
- Tax benefits — Both businesses and employees can reduce how much they owe in taxes with a 401(k) plan. Matching contributions from employers are tax deductible to the extent that the contributions are not more than the yearly corporate tax deduction limit on employer contributions, which is 25% of covered payroll. The federal government also offers tax credits when businesses first establish a 401(k) plan, and if the employer offers 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 save for retirement through automatic contributions deducted from their paychecks. Greater financial security ultimately leads to a more productive workforce.
- Reduced liability — Employers take on a fiduciary responsibility to their employees when they offer 401(k) plans, which involves a a deep level of investment savvy and responsibilities. If you work with an ERISA 3(38) Fiduciary advisor to initiate and operate your small business's 401(k), the bulk of that liability will be placed on them.
- Ease of 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 tasks for you, so you can benefit from the rewards of offering a plan without putting in too much work yourself. Moreover, advisors can help integrate contributions with your payroll system for further simplicity. If an employee takes a new job elsewhere, they can easily rollover their 401(k) to a new retirement account without much hassle to you.
What 401(k) Plans Are Available to Small Businesses in University City, 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 put funds into the account through payroll deductions. Most 401(k)s have a wide range of investments that may include mutual funds, index funds, bonds, and company stock. Employers can make matching contributions as an added perk to employees. Most 401(k) plans must follow rigid nondiscrimination requirements, and are subject to annual tests to ensure the plan doesn't favor highly compensated employees. The IRS sets contribution limits each year; in 2023 the limit is $22,500, unless you are 50 or older, in which case the limit is $30,000.
University City, 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 — Contributions made with a traditional deferral are taxed differently than with a Roth deferral. With a traditional deferral, contributions are tax-deferred, meaning the contributions are made 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 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 been contributing for at least five years and is 59-½ years old when the money is taken out. 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 required to make fully vested contributions to your employees' plans. 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 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 money is taken out of their paycheck unless they choose to opt out or contribute a different amount. 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
These are are meant 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 allows participants to save more as they can make contributions both as a worker and a businesses owner. 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.
What plan works best for your and your employees depends on your business and employees. If you're thinking of setting up a 401(k) plan for your small University City, MO business, schedule a meeting with a member of our advisor team today to get started.
How a Financial Advisor Can Help Small University City, MO Businesses With Their 401(k) Plans
Given the benefits of a small business offering a 401(k) plan, some University City, MO employers might still be cautious, 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 handful of quick internet searches are a poor replacement for years of experience and working on retirement plans every day. Financial advisors can partner with small business owners to create a 401(k) plan meant expressly to benefit them. They can help choose the plan that most benefits you, set up contribution and matching formulas, and establish eligibility requirements.
- Initiating and managing a plan — There are specific steps you must take 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 assist with all of the above requirements, and oversee the operation and yearly reviews of the plan.
- Marketing your 401(k) plan to prospective employees — The term "401(k)" might appear on a job listing as a bullet point, but many in the job market don't fully understand what a 401(k) can do for them. We can bridge the phrase "401(k)" to specific 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 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' 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 the status of their retirement savings.
- Compliance — Employers must abide by various rules and contribution limits when offering a 401(k) plan. Not following the rules correctly can lead to harsh fines. A financial advisor can help to ensure all of the proper rules are followed.
- Fiduciary duty — As a plan sponsor, small business owners have a fiduciary responsibility to act with diligence, prudence, and care. We are ethically and legally mandated to do what's in your best interest, and in the best interest of your employees and their retirement accounts.
A financial advisor offers significant value to University City, 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 University City, MO
If you own a small business in University City, MO, you want to spend your energy on what you do best and what you're passionate about – 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 University City, MO business today, call Correct Capital at 314-930-401(k) or contact us online.
