Types Of Employer-sponsored Retirement Plans

By Doeren Mayhew

Many employees are offered with a variety of retirement plans to choose from on a platter by the employer. The selection must be based on the basis of the circumstances of the employee and what they employer has to offer. Some of the more popular methods are mentioned below:

401(k) Under the 401(k), the employees are given an opportunity to defer taxes on a part of their income by making contributions to the retirement fund. 401(k), 403(b) and 457 are the various plans that are similar to these sections under the Internal Revenue Code. 403(b) plans are similar to the 401(k) are applicable to the tax-exempt organizations, whereas 457 is a plan meant for governmental agencies. Employers that present the employees with 401(k) or 403(b) plans may offer them with a Roth version.

The annual contributions to the above plans are more than that for the IRAs, besides giving the employees aged fifty or above to make catch-up contributions to the fund. A lucky employee will be offered with an equal portion similar to what he contributes by his employer.

401(k), 403(b) and 457 plans are expected to follow the minimum distribution rules similar to the IRAs. However, the difference lies in the fact that under certain conditions, you can continue to contribute to these plans even after you turn 701/2.

Solo 401(k) plan The traditional 401(k) plan is not accessible by self-employed individuals. To overcome this, a new plan was developed that takes the features of 401(k) along with other plans forming solo 401(k) that permits them the satisfaction of planning for retirement.

The solo 401(k) is highly beneficial to the self-employed. Under the plan, the individual can make contributions under the 401(k) limit including the relevant catch-up amounts, if any, along with the contributions to a SEP IRA. A three-source contribution, thereby, triples your capital investment towards retirement. But as solo 401(k) is meant for self-employed people, you will have to opt for a 401(k) if you have employees under you. Any contribution, however, needs to possess the requisite amount necessary for the payment. Absence of steady payments into the funds will result in a loss of wealth spent on the cost and administration of the plan.

SIMPLE IRA: The plan, SIMPLE (Savings Incentive Match Plans for Employees) IRA is a program meant for employers with less than hundred employees. Under the plan the employer has to contribute an amount equal to those made by the employees up to a certain percentage limit, typically, 3%, or a flat rate of 2% irrespective of the contribution made by the employee.

Compared to the 401(k) s, the statutory restriction imposed on the contribution and the catch-up limits are a little lower in SIMPLE IRA. Another plan similar to the SIMPLE IRA is the SIMPLE 401(k). The minor differences, however, make SIMPLE IRA superior. For example, while limited testing is essential in SIMPLE 401(k), the discrimination testing is not essential with SIMPLE IRA

Defined contribution plans: It comprises of the money purchase plans and the profit sharing plans that have differing restrictions on the contributions that can be made by the employer and the employee. Where the employer plans are merged with that of the employee, the limit to the annual contribution to the fund by the employee excluding the catch-up amount, if any, brings down what the employer can offer to the plan. .

A defined contribution plan that is ideally suited for the owners of the closely-held business entities is the ESOP.

Defined benefit plans: Although not popular as it once was, the defined benefit plans is a traditional system under which the employees cannot make their contribution to the annual retirement benefit. The complete investment risk attached to the scheme is accepted by the company who offers assurances of payment. Unlike defined contribution plans, funds that are segregated by employees, the defined benefit plan fund is often pooled.

A defined benefit plan is generally more expensive to create than the time-honored defined contribution plan; but they permit the employers to contribute appreciably more than the defined contribution limits as the figure is defined by the amount needed to generate the benefit. Though it is crucial to recognize the amount expected in the future, it's even more vital to identify the factors affecting future income. Remaining abreast of this knowledge can help in making wise decisions regarding your retirement. - 31391

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