Most people have heard of Roth IRAs. Those who qualify typically contribute and those who do not qualify can sometimes find a way to do so, as we explain here. In either case, you can do MORE.
Take a Step Back and Understand Plan Types and Limits
2021 Retirement Plan Limits | |
Account Type | 2021 Limits |
IRA | $6,000 |
50+ Catch-Up Limit | $1,000 |
Simple IRA | $13,500 |
50+ Catch-Up Limit | $3,000 |
SEP IRA | $58,000 |
401(k) | $19,500 |
50+ Catch-Up Limit | $6,500 |
Profit Sharing Plan | $58,000 |
Defined Benefit Plan (Annual Limit) | $230,000 |
Depending on your current occupational status and business structure, you may or may not be able to open any of the accounts noted above. For starters, any individual can open an IRA (with certain age/income requirements). All other plans must be company sponsored. An optimal retirement plan design permits annual savings of $58,000/year if you are under the age of 50 or $64,500/year if you are age 50 and above. What’s more, it can all be Roth!
How is This Possible?
Formula = 401(k) + Profit Sharing + After Tax Contribution + Roth Conversion
An individual can contribute up to $19,500/year (under 50 years old) or $26,000/year (50+ years old) to a Traditional 401(K), or Roth 401(k). You can fund the remaining balance of $38,500 through any of the following ways:
- EMPLOYER can contribute via matching or profit sharing
- EMPLOYEE can contribute with after-tax dollars
You can then convert any traditional dollars (past or present) to Roth. It is that simple.
Why Doesn’t Everyone Do This?
Frankly, most people do not know how to do this. It also depends on how your business and income is structured (C-Corp versus Sole Proprietor or whether you file 1099 versus W2, for example), among other things. That said, if you are an employee, your company must draft the retirement plan document to allow for these features. The Department of Labor also deploys plan discrimination testing which can alter the amount highly compensated/key employees can contribute. If you are a business owner and you are not doing this, you may be missing out.
The Optimal Plan Design
You can also add a cash balance plan on top. A cash balance plan is a pension plan in which an employer credits a participant’s account with a set percentage of his or her yearly compensation plus interest. There is a complex calculation that takes your age and income into consideration, among other things, to determine your maximum annual contribution.
An example of an optimal plan design:
Participant | Age | Cash Balance Contribution | 401(k) Deferral | Profit Sharing Contribution | After-Tax Contribution | Total Contribution |
Owner | 40 | $101,578 | $19,500 | $17,400 | $21,000 | $159,618 |
Participant | Age | Cash Balance Contribution | 401(k) Deferral | Profit Sharing Contribution | After-Tax Contribution | Total Contribution |
Owner | 50 | $166,905 | $26,000 | $17,400 | $21,100 | $231,455 |
Participant | Age | Cash Balance Contribution | 401(k) Deferral | Profit Sharing Contribution | After-Tax Contribution | Total Contribution |
Owner | 60 | $274,000 | $26,000 | $12,000 | $26,500 | $338,560 |
*Assuming Net Schedule C Income of $500,000 |
Step Up Your Game
Modern problems require modern solutions. There are many planning strategies at your disposal if you get creative. It is definitely worth a conversation with your financial advisor to go over the options.