Defined Benefit Plan
Max Savings for Solopreneurs
Defined Benefit Plans for Small Business Owners
A defined benefit plan (DB) is an IRS approved qualified retirement plan. A DB provides a specific benefit at retirement age that accrues through earnings and contributions. Defined benefit plan contributions are determined by actuarial assumptions. Since an older participant has less time to earn, a larger contribution can be made than for a younger participant. The example in the table below illustrates the point. It looks like a wide contribution discrepancy exists between the
From a cost standpoint, defined benefit plans work well for owner-only enterprises. A solo owner 401k is another effective option. Administration and actuarial costs are very reasonable since there aren’t any employees to account for. The DB allows for much higher savings with slightly greater administration costs. You can also borrow from your account balance should the need arise.
BUSINESS OWNER BENEFITS
- Increase tax savings: ideal for 100% owners with no employees who want to defer all or most of their income
- Significant retirement accumulations (for DB over $200,000 a year subject to actuarial calculations; solo 401k up to $60,000 if over age 50)
- Helps to reduce business concentration risk by diversifying your assets
- Reasonable administrative cost
We’ve summarized some key defined benefit plan advantages. If your retirement plan needs a healthy boost or you would like to enjoy greater tax benefits, you owe it to yourself to explore how a defined benefit plan can accelerate your path to the retirement security that you deserve. There’s no cost nor obligation for a detailed consultation and plan proposal that will help you evaluate the option that will work best for your needs.
Related Articles
In Plan ROTH 401k Conversions
Options to Choose, Not Choose, or Defer to a Later Date Not all plans include the so-called “In plan conversions” detailed below, which allow existing pre-tax 401K dollars to be converted to after-tax ROTH 401k dollars. They can be a good way to build tax-free income...
Social Security: Fix or Fumble the Political Football
Social Security – Fix or Fumble the Political Football The Center for Retirement Research at Boston College reports that the Social Security “trust fund” is due to deplete its surplus reserves by 2035. Contrary to sensationalized reports, the authors illustrate the...
The Simplified 401K Plan Solution
The owners and plan trustees wanted to increase plan participation rates, especially with the younger, lower earning employees who make up most of the workforce. Due to the nature of the business (120 employees in multiple locations) the broker from a large...