Surgent's Comparing and Contrasting Retirement Plans for Small- and Medium-Sized Businesses

Overview

Clients often ask their tax advisors whether they have the "best" pension plan and whether they are using it to its maximum advantage. This program explains how various pension plans work and analyzes why a small or medium-sized business owner would choose one plan over another.

Prerequisites

Basic individual income taxation rules

Objectives

• Understand the advantages and disadvantages of the major pension-planning options for small- and medium-sized business owners
• Help clients evaluate pension plan options and select the best pension-planning option for them

Highlights

• Factors business owners should take into account when choosing a retirement plan
• SIMPLE plans
• Simplified employee pension plans
• 401(k) plans
• Defined benefit plans
• Ensuring eligible employees are covered
• Employees’ impact on choice of plan
• Ongoing compliance requirements
• Establishing a plan after the tax year end
• Changes to safe harbor 401(k) plans
• Pooled employer plans