What retirement account is right for me?
Specific to S-Corporations, there are three retirement plans we recommend. These are the SEP-IRA (Simplified Employee Pension Individual Retirement Account), SOLO 401(k), and Defined Benefit Cash Balancing plan.
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Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) IRA:
A SEP IRA has low-income requirements and low costs, making it accessible to anyone who is Self-Employed. However, it’s one of the least flexible account types and has contribution restrictions that limit catch-up contributions. SEP IRA is usually recommended for Sole Prop/LLC. -
SOLO 401(k)
The Solo 401(k) plan offers the highest flexibility in a retirement savings option and only requires a moderate income (over $60K). It provides optimal tax efficiency when paired with an S-Corp, flexible ways to increase retirement contributions (including catch-up and spousal contributions), and can be funded through pre-tax or after-tax dollars.
Solo 401k is usually recommended for S Corp with a net income under $500k as the preferred plan, and for S Corp with a higher net income, to be combined with the defined benefit plan.
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Defined Benefit/Cash Balancing
This highly-involved retirement savings option is designed for high earners ($500K+ annually) looking to maximize their retirement savings. Be aware of the cost to set up and maintain compliance, which will range from $2k-$5k per year. Defined Benefit plan contributions are set by many rules and calculations! You would work with a specialist to determine plan limits and actual contributions.
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To learn more about retirement options that are available for you, download our Retirement Savings for S-Corp Guide: