Retirement Plans for Small Businesses

Safe Harbor 401(k) Plans May Help Owners and Employees Save More

With standard 401(k) plans, the amount that a company’s owners or highly compensated employees can contribute is often restricted by how much other employees contribute to the plan, making such plans a less effective savings vehicle for many small businesses. However, with the more flexible safe harbor option, owners may be able to make larger contributions for themselves (as employee and employer) in exchange for making tax-deductible contributions or “matches” for employees.

In addition, the annual IRS non-dis-crimination testing that normally applies to standard 401(k) plans is eliminated from safe harbor plans, which typically makes them easier and less expensive for small businesses to maintain.

To help shelter more of your income from taxes, and possibly help your employees do the same, compare the benefits and limitations of safe harbor 401(k) plans to other retirement plans to determine which one could best meet your company’s needs.

The information in this article is not intended as tax or legal advice, and it may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties. You are encouraged to seek tax or legal advice from an independent professional advisor. The content is derived from sources believed to be accurate. Neither the information presented nor any opinion expressed constitutes a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. This material was written and prepared by Emerald. © 2012 Emerald.

Janet Metzinger and Rick Slone are Investment Advisor Representatives with Securities and Investment Advisory Services offered through Transamerica Financial Advisors, Inc. (TFA), Member FINRA, SIPC and Registered Investment Advisor. Non-Securities Products are not offered through TFA. TFA is not affiliated with Executive Planners NC, Inc. Neither TFA nor its representatives provide legal, tax, nor accounting advice. Persons who provide such advice do so in a capacity other than as a registered representative of TFA.

Due to various state regulations and registration requirements concerning the dissemination of information regarding investment products and services, we are currently required to limit access of the following pages to individuals residing in states where we are currently registered.

A broker/dealer, investment advisor, BD agent or IA rep may only transact business in a particular state after licensure or satisfying qualifications requirements of that state, or only if they are excluded or exempted from the states broker/dealer, investment advisor, or BD agent or IA rep requirements, as the case may be; and follow-up, individualized responses to consumers in a particular state by broker/dealer, investment advisor, BD agent or IA rep that involve either the effecting or attempting to effect transactions in securities or the rendering of personalized investment advice for compensation, as the case may be, shall not be made without first complying with the states broker/dealer, investment advisor, BD agent or IA rep requirements, or pursuant to an applicable state exemption or exclusion.

Janet Metzinger is registered to sell Securities in the following states:

California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Indiana, North Carolina, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Wisconsin.

Rick Slone is registered to sell Securities in the following states:

Illinois, Indiana, North Carolina and Texas..