Small Business Solutions
Smart Solutions Built for Small Business Needs
Small Business Retirement Plans
We’re here to help you make thoughtful, informed decisions about your money—decisions that support your goals and bring you closer to the life you envision.
Services Include:
Watch Retirement Plan Options for Small Business Owners
🔹 Individual 401(k) (Traditional & Roth)
Ideal for:
Owner-only businesses, including sole proprietors, partnerships, and corporations with no employees other than a spouse.
Key Features:
High Contribution Limits: Allows for greater retirement savings than SEP IRAs due to combined employee and employer contributions.
Dual Contribution Option: Make both salary deferrals (as the employee) and profit-sharing contributions (as the employer).
Traditional and Roth Options: Choose between pre-tax (Traditional) or after-tax (Roth) contributions based on your tax planning goals.
Tax Advantages:
Traditional: Contributions are tax-deductible, reducing taxable income.
Roth: Qualified withdrawals are tax-free, offering long-term tax benefits.
No Fees: No account opening or annual maintenance fees with many providers.
Additional Benefits:
Ability to take a loan from the account (subject to plan rules).
Full control over investment options, including mutual funds, ETFs, and in some cases, alternative assets.
SEP IRA (Simplified Employee Pension)
Ideal for:
Self-employed individuals, freelancers, and small business owners—particularly those with few or no employees.
Key Features:
Employer-Only Contributions: Contribute up to 25% of each eligible employee’s compensation (including your own), up to annual IRS limits.
Simple Administration: Easy to establish and maintain, with minimal paperwork and no annual filing requirements.
Immediate Vesting: Employees own 100% of employer contributions immediately.
Flexible Contributions: Contributions are discretionary and can vary each year based on cash flow.
Tax Advantages:
Contributions are tax-deductible for the business.
Investment earnings grow tax-deferred until withdrawn.
Fees:
No account opening or ongoing maintenance fees with most financial institutions.
Additional Benefits:
Ideal for businesses that want to provide retirement benefits without the complexity of a traditional pension or 401(k).
Can be combined with a traditional IRA for additional retirement savings flexibility.
Benefits of a SIMPLE IRA
Easy to Set Up and Administer
Minimal paperwork and no annual IRS filings required (unlike 401(k) plans).
Great for businesses without dedicated HR or benefits departments.
Low Cost
No setup or ongoing maintenance fees with many financial institutions.
Employee Contributions
Employees can make pre-tax salary deferrals, helping them build retirement savings.
Employer Matching
Required employer contributions (either matching or non-elective) help encourage employee participation.
Immediate Vesting
All contributions belong to the employee immediately—no vesting schedule.
Tax Benefits
Employer contributions are tax-deductible.
Investment earnings grow tax-deferred.
❌ Cons of a SIMPLE IRA
Lower Contribution Limits
Employee contribution limit is lower than that of a 401(k).
(2025 limit: $16,000 for under 50; $19,500 with catch-up)
Mandatory Employer Contributions
Employers must contribute each year, regardless of business profitability.
No Roth Option
SIMPLE IRAs don’t allow Roth (after-tax) contributions, limiting tax strategy flexibility.
Limited Plan Design Flexibility
No loans, profit-sharing, or discretionary contributions beyond the required match or 2%.
Early Withdrawal Penalty
Withdrawals before age 59½ are subject to a 10% penalty (25% if within the first 2 years of participation).
No Portability to Other Retirement Plan Types
Cannot be rolled into a Roth IRA or 401(k) during the first two years of participation.
- List Item
Types of Investment Management:
Active Management
Managers try to outperform the market by making specific investment decisions.
Passive Management
Investments are made to mirror a market index (like the S&P 500), often through index funds or ETFs.
Who does it?
- Individual Portfolio Managers
- Investment Firms (like Vanguard, Fidelity, BlackRock)
- Robo-Advisors (automated platforms like Betterment or Wealthfront)
Why it matters:
- Grow wealth over time
- Meet financial goals (like retirement, buying a house)
- Manage risk and respond to market changes
The most fundamental of our work principles is that if the client is happy, we’re happy. We ensure this by offering a wide range of approaches that include your life goals and values, your income and cash flow, your investments, your assets and liabilities, your risk management and insurance, your estate planning, tax strategy, and retirement planning.
Advising on our clients’ investment and liquidity portfolios allows us to manage significant money. But for us, the bigger the sum, the higher our responsibility. Our suggestions always include your utmost desires and risk tolerance.
We have a 20-year history of offering financial and insurance products to our clients. Our clients’ funds are kept in custodian accounts safeguarded by the highest-respected financial firms in America. These firms are all American and located in the good old USA. They have to have a solid financial rating and position to have our trust to recommend them as custodians for our clients ‘ funds.
While we work with some of the most respected and significant financial and insurance firms, our pricing and service fees are reasonable, in line with industry median, and open for clients to inspect and approve prior to any proposal, recommendations, or conduct.
Please be aware that all financial investments carry a risk; there is no safe investment, even those with the US Government’s highest backing. The future is uncertain, and we can be your co-pilot while you control the helm.
A Financial Advisor: Your Small Business’s Strategic Partner for Growth and Security
For small business owners, navigating the complex financial landscape while simultaneously managing daily operations can be a formidable challenge. This is where a qualified financial advisor steps in, not just as a money manager, but as a strategic partner dedicated to the fiscal health and long-term success of the enterprise. From optimizing cash flow to planning for a seamless exit, the services provided by a financial advisor are integral to a small business’s stability and growth trajectory.
Key Areas Where a Financial Advisor Can Provide Invaluable Services:
1. Comprehensive Financial Planning and Strategy: A financial advisor will work with you to develop a holistic financial plan that aligns with your business goals. This includes:
Cash Flow Management: Analyzing your income and expenses to identify opportunities for improved efficiency, helping you maintain healthy liquidity to cover operational costs and invest in growth.
Debt Management and Capital Acquisition: Advising on the most effective strategies for managing existing debt and securing additional funding for expansion, equipment purchases, or other investments.
Financial Forecasting and Budgeting: Creating realistic financial projections and budgets to guide decision-making and measure performance against your objectives.
2. Strategic Retirement Planning: A financial advisor can help you select and implement the most suitable retirement plan for your business and its employees, considering factors like company size, profitability, and your personal retirement goals. Common options include:
SEP IRA (Simplified Employee Pension): A straightforward and flexible option, particularly for self-employed individuals and small businesses with few employees.
SIMPLE IRA (Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees): A plan that allows for both employee and employer contributions, fostering employee loyalty and retention.
401(k) Plans: A more robust option that can be customized to meet the specific needs of your business and offers higher contribution limits.
3. Proactive Tax Planning and Strategy: In collaboration with your accountant, a financial advisor can help you minimize your tax liabilities through strategic planning. This includes:
Entity Structure Analysis: Advising on the most tax-advantageous business structure (e.g., sole proprietorship, LLC, S-corporation).
Identifying and Maximizing Deductions: Ensuring you are taking full advantage of all eligible business deductions to reduce your taxable income.
Timing of Income and Expenses: Strategically managing the timing of financial transactions to optimize your tax position.
4. Robust Risk Management and Insurance: Protecting your business from unforeseen events is crucial. A financial advisor will assess your risks and recommend appropriate insurance coverage, such as:
Key Person Insurance: Protecting your business from the financial impact of losing a critical employee.
Buy-Sell Agreements: Establishing a plan for the transfer of ownership in the event of a partner’s death, disability, or retirement.
General Liability and Property Insurance: Ensuring you have adequate coverage to protect your assets and operations.
5. Thoughtful Succession and Exit Planning: Whether you plan to pass your business on to family, sell it to a third party, or wind down operations, a financial advisor is a critical partner in developing a comprehensive succession plan. This ensures a smooth transition and helps you maximize the value of your business.
By engaging the services of a financial advisor, small business owners can gain a clearer understanding of their financial standing, make more informed decisions, and ultimately, build a more resilient and profitable enterprise. This partnership allows entrepreneurs to focus on what they do best – running and growing their business – with the confidence that their financial future is in capable hands.
A Financial Advisor: Your Small Business’s Strategic Partner for Growth and Security
For small business owners, navigating the complex financial landscape while simultaneously managing daily operations can be a formidable challenge. This is where a qualified financial advisor steps in, not just as a money manager, but as a strategic partner dedicated to the fiscal health and long-term success of the enterprise. From optimizing cash flow to planning for a seamless exit, the services provided by a financial advisor are integral to a small business’s stability and growth trajectory.
Key Areas Where a Financial Advisor Can Provide Invaluable Services:
1. Comprehensive Financial Planning and Strategy: A financial advisor will work with you to develop a holistic financial plan that aligns with your business goals. This includes:
Cash Flow Management: Analyzing your income and expenses to identify opportunities for improved efficiency, helping you maintain healthy liquidity to cover operational costs and invest in growth.
Debt Management and Capital Acquisition: Advising on the most effective strategies for managing existing debt and securing additional funding for expansion, equipment purchases, or other investments.
Financial Forecasting and Budgeting: Creating realistic financial projections and budgets to guide decision-making and measure performance against your objectives.
2. Strategic Retirement Planning: A financial advisor can help you select and implement the most suitable retirement plan for your business and its employees, considering factors like company size, profitability, and your personal retirement goals. Common options include:
SEP IRA (Simplified Employee Pension): A straightforward and flexible option, particularly for self-employed individuals and small businesses with few employees.
SIMPLE IRA (Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees): A plan that allows for both employee and employer contributions, fostering employee loyalty and retention.
401(k) Plans: A more robust option that can be customized to meet the specific needs of your business and offers higher contribution limits.
3. Proactive Tax Planning and Strategy: In collaboration with your accountant, a financial advisor can help you minimize your tax liabilities through strategic planning. This includes:
Entity Structure Analysis: Advising on the most tax-advantageous business structure (e.g., sole proprietorship, LLC, S-corporation).
Identifying and Maximizing Deductions: Ensuring you are taking full advantage of all eligible business deductions to reduce your taxable income.
Timing of Income and Expenses: Strategically managing the timing of financial transactions to optimize your tax position.
4. Robust Risk Management and Insurance: Protecting your business from unforeseen events is crucial. A financial advisor will assess your risks and recommend appropriate insurance coverage, such as:
Key Person Insurance: Protecting your business from the financial impact of losing a critical employee.
Buy-Sell Agreements: Establishing a plan for the transfer of ownership in the event of a partner’s death, disability, or retirement.
General Liability and Property Insurance: Ensuring you have adequate coverage to protect your assets and operations.
5. Thoughtful Succession and Exit Planning: Whether you plan to pass your business on to family, sell it to a third party, or wind down operations, a financial advisor is a critical partner in developing a comprehensive succession plan. This ensures a smooth transition and helps you maximize the value of your business.
By engaging the services of a financial advisor, small business owners can gain a clearer understanding of their financial standing, make more informed decisions, and ultimately, build a more resilient and profitable enterprise. This partnership allows entrepreneurs to focus on what they do best – running and growing their business – with the confidence that their financial future is in capable hands.