Your Guide to Finding the Right 401k Plan

Transcription

1 Your Guide to Finding the Right 401k Plan Find everything you need to know to make the right decision for your business An Introduction to 401k plans Saving for retirement isn t just for big businesses or big budgets. Saving in a 401k is one of the best ways for you and your employees to achieve your retirement planning goals. Smaller businesses and those who are self-employed can reap the rewards of this valuable investment vehicle, and without the complexities, jargon, or daunting price tag. But not all 401k plans or providers are created equal. Here s what Ubiquity s 401k guide will give you: 401k basics The benefits of offering a 401k plan Comparing 401k plans to other retirement plans Common 401k myths Key 401k retirement plan features

2 401K BASICS You don t have to be the expert that s our job. Here s what you need to know. What s a 401k plan? A 401k is a retirement plan developed specifically for businesses and with often overlooked or unknown advantages. At its core, the flexible features of a 401k allow you, and your employees (if you have any) to save for retirement, while reaping immediate tax benefits. The IRS incentivizes business owners and individuals to save. Employers and employees benefit with a lower taxable income in the short term as your long term investments grow tax-free until retirement. Some 401k plan providers also offer an after-tax (Roth) option, which means you won t be taxed at the time you withdraw that money because you ve already paid taxes on it. Many businesses choose to match a portion of employees contributions. In addition to helping employees reach their retirement goals faster, this allows employers to take advantage of additional business tax benefits. Shouldn t understanding 401k plans be easy? Let us show you the ropes. 2

3 401K BASICS You don t need employees to have a 401k plan Contrary to what you may have heard, 401k plans are not just for companies with employees. Those who are self-employed, as well as businesses with no employees can save for retirement with a 401k plan. * In this guide, the term employer includes those who are self-employed. Who can invest in a 401k? Eligibility can vary from plan to plan, and the specifics are spelled out on the IRS website as well as in your plan documents, which define all the rules and features of your plan. Typically, an individual must be 21 years of age or older to participate in a 401k plan. Employee 401k contributions Contributions (also referred to as deferrals ) refer to the money your employees put into their 401k plans. These contributions, are subject to limits set forth by the IRS and may change annually. A 401k plan delivers the highest contribution limits of any retirement vehicle available In 2018, employees and employers under age 50 can contribute deferrals up to $18,500 to the 401k plan, which is deducted from your paycheck. Those ages 50 or older can contribute an extra $6,000, for a total of $24,500 in catch-up dollars. 3

4 401(K) BASICS Employer 401(k) contributions Contrary to what you may have heard, employers do not have to contribute (or match ) some or part of the amount their employees put in their 401k plan but it is an option. An employer allows an employer to contribute to the plan on an employee s behalf. This contribution can either be money put aside on behalf of all employees in the form of profit-sharing contributions, or it can be a match of the employee s 401k contributions, so only participating employees will get this additional benefit. Employer contributions are both tax-deferred (e.g., made after taxes have been taken from the full amount) and taxdeductible. Total 401k contribution limits per individual The IRS sets the maximum contribution limits per individual which may change annually. Here s an example: The maximum contributions allowed per individual for 2018 (including employee and employer contributions) is $55,000 (or $61,000 if age 50 or older). This means if you put away the full $18,500 in individual contributions, the maximum amount that can be contributed on your behalf in the form of employer contributions is $36,500 x $18,500 x $36,500 $55,000 MAX. AMOUNT YOU CAN PUT AWAY IN 2018 (+ $6,000 MORE IF AGE 50 0R OLDER) + = MAX. AMOUNT EMPLOYER CAN CONTRIBUTE IN 2018 (EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS ARE OPTIONAL) TOTAL OF $55,000 = BIG BUCKS! (OR UP TO $61,000 IF AGE 50 OR OLDER) 4

5 THE BENEFITS OF OFFERING A 401K PLAN 401k plans deliver a range of benefits to both employee and employer As a business owner, the strongest reason for a 401k plan is the tremendous savings potential it offers, for you as the owner, as well as your employees and your business. The benefits are in long-term tax-deferred retirement savings, as well as in short-term tax benefits. Here are some specifics you should know: Company 401k Benefits Small Business Tax Credit Per the IRS: If this is your company s first 401k plan, your business may qualify for a tax credit of up to $500 per year for the first three years of the plan. This can cut the administrative cost of some plans by as much as half. 1 Tax-deductible employer contributions An employer match or profit sharing contribution is not mandatory, but if you choose to contribute to your employees 401k plan, these contributions are tax-deductible. 1 Credit equals 50% of the cost to set up and administer the plan and educate employees about the plan, up to a maximum of $500 per year for each of the first 3 years of the plan. Read more about this credit on the IRS website. Please consult a tax professional if you are interested in taking advantage of this credit. With the right 401k plan, there are benefits for everyone, all around. 5

6 THE BENEFITS OF OFFERING A 401K PLAN Employee 401k Benefits Lower taxable income Employees contributing the maximum amount to the plan can save a significant amount in federal personal income taxes. In 2018, that s up to $5,000. Tax-deferred savings When employees contribute to a 401k plan, that money is invested before it is taxed. That means they do not pay taxes on it until they retire and need to start withdrawing it. Most likely they will have a lower tax rate at retirement because they ll have a lower overall income than they had while working this depends on several factors, including the rate of income and potential future tax rate changes. Saver s Credit The federal government offers a tax credit up to $1,000 ($2,000, for those filing jointly) for low- to moderate-income employees who contribute to a qualified employer-sponsored retirement plan. You can learn more about this on the IRS website. Schedule your free consultation Our team is ready to show you how easy saving can be. Schedule the time that works best for you Look at all the great benefits you receive while contributing to your 401k. 6

7 COMPARING RETIREMENT PLANS Comparing 401k plans to other retirement plan options How do you know which one is right for you and your employees? he table below introduces you to the most common retirement plan options for small businesses. Since your needs and the needs of your employees, are unique, it s best to discuss your options with a specialist to find the 401k plan right for your situation. FEATURES 401k SIMPLE 401k SEP IRA Who can contribute? Employers and employees Employers and employees Employer only (employees are not permitted to make individual contributions) How much can employees contribute (if applicable)? 1 $18,500 (with a $6,000 catchup contribution for employees who are age 50 or older) $12,500 (with a $3,000 catch-up contribution for employees who are age 50 or older) Not applicable Are employer contributions required? What is the maximum annual contribution per individual (employer + employee contributions)? 2 No. Employer contributions, including discretionary match, profit sharing and/or Safe Harbor features are optional (or 25% of eligible compensation) Yes (only applies if employees contribute the match can be equal to the first 3% of employee s compensation OR a 2%, profit sharing contribution) 3 $55,000 $12,500 (+employer contribution) Yes, all owner/employees must receive the same % of pay as employer contribution 4 $55,000 (or 25% of eligible compensation, whichever is less) 1 Contribution limits for Limits are adjusted each year for inflation. Employee contributions may not exceed 100% of compensation. 2 Several formulas exist; this is one example of how to compute employer contribution. This chart is not considered a comprehensive review of each plan type. It is intended to be general in nature, and is not intended to provide legal, tax or investment advice. 3 For more information on SIMPLE 401k plan rules, visit the IRS Choosing a Retirement Plan: SIMPLE 401(k) Plan 4 For more information on SEP IRA plan rules, visit the IRS SEP Plan FAQs - Contributions 7

8 COMMON 401K MYTHS 401ks are some of the most misunderstood retirement plan options available. MYTH #1 MYTH #2 MYTH #3 MYTH #4 A 401k plan is too expensive for my small business. 401k plans require an employer contribution. Our employees won t participate because they don t make enough money. It s too complicated. TRUTH: TRUTH: TRUTH: TRUTH: It s true that many 401k plans are designed for larger businesses. But there are web-based 401k plans that are affordable to businesses of all shapes and sizes. Some of these plans have low monthly fees and no asset fees, and employers have the option to split costs with their employees, much like group health insurance plans. An employer match or profit sharing contribution is entirely optional. However, employer contributions are tax-deductible for the business. There is no minimum contribution requirement and with a pre-tax contribution, your employees may have a lower taxable income. As always, offering an employer match can provide additional incentive for your employees to participate, while maxing your tax advantages as a business. Starting a 401k plan doesn t have to be complicated. With the right plan, you can be running in 15 minutes or less. Your plan should be easy to manage, and provide simple tools and easy-to-read reports. 8

9 COMMON 401K MYTHS Four key 401k features and the questions you should ask to ensure your plan has them. Features What to ask Why it matters to you The answers you want 1 Affordable pricing Do you charge a flat fee? What are your assetbased fees (if any)? Most 401k providers charge asset-based fees on total account balances. That means that as your account balance grows, the more the provider gets, and the less you and your employees see when you stop punching a clock. These fees are not included in your bill, so you may not know just how much you re losing. Some providers may also charge a penalty if your plan doesn t meet certain asset levels. A flat fee that you understand, that won t change over time. It should leave you and your employees free to contribute as much as you want, without facing higher costs. Setup should not take more than two hours of your time. Ongoing management should not take more than one hour per month. 2 Ease of use How easy is your plan to set up? How much time does the plan take to manage? Setting up and managing your 401k plan should be quick and easy, not stressful. You have a business to run, and you want a plan that works for you, not the other way around. Setup should not take more than 30 minutes of your time. Ongoing management should not take more than one hour per month. 3 Choice of investments What investments do you offer? Many small business 401k plans offer only one brand of fund or a very limited range of funds, which means you and your employees will not be able to choose from flexible investment options that help you best meet your goals. Some, but not all, 401k plans provide investment and advisor services to employees, to help them understand the risk versus return of a particular investment. You should be able to choose from different families of funds. There should also be tools available to make it easy to select and manage investments. 4 Ongoing support How do I get help? Some providers offer only online service, while others offer both online and phone support. The provider should offer service in a form that meets your needs. 9

10 Ready to chat? If you re a small business owner and need a 401k plan for yourself and your company, only Ubiquity offers flat-fee plans plus free expert advice. We ll fully customize your 401k to meet the specific needs of your small business. CHECK OUT OUR COST-EFFECTIVE, PLAN SOLUTIONS Setting up a 401k can be complicated. Only Ubiquity gives small business owners access to 401k experts in addition to industry leading low flat-fees. Each sales expert has over a decade of experience assisting business owners in 401k plan design. Take advantage of this free benefit. We ve got experts available by phone, chat and . sales@myubiquity.com