Services for Small Businesses
We work with a range of business sizes, from sole proprietors to larger corporations. We typically work with privately owned businesses, helping owners with comprehensive financial, retirement, and success planning services, including:
Retirement Planning
Many small business owners are interested in setting up a retirement plan but are not sure where to start. Because the business owner is responsible for choosing the company retirement plan’s design and investment options, there are critical decisions to be made. Specializing in retirement planning strategies, we can assist clients with qualified plan designs, including:
- Safe Harbor and Traditional 401(k)
- Profit Sharing Plan (Integrated, Age-Based, New Comparability)
- SEP/SIMPLE IRA Plans
- Defined Benefit Plan
- Cash Balance Plans
- Combination Plans
Other Business Strategies
We can also assist with other nonqualified business strategies, connecting them with the business’ other qualified retirement plans to create the most appropriate comprehensive solutions, including:
- Executive Bonus Programs
- Deferred Compensation Programs
- Split Dollar Programs (using corporate dollars for personal insurance)
- Section-79 Plans
- Captive Insurance Programs*
*Creation of the Captive Insurance Company subsidiary is arranged by an independent third party specialist.
Tax Planning Strategies
Tax planning refers to the process of reviewing tax options and determining how taxes can be reduced. Many small business owners are unaware of the fact that, by adjusting how they conduct business or transactions, they may be able to mitigate taxes. Tax planning is an ongoing process that occurs throughout the year, rather than waiting until the year is over. We work with clients’ CPAs or, if needed, refer them to one to create an appropriate overall plan. Our goal is to help clients reduce their taxable income and concurrently create a more effective retirement plan.
Business Continuation Planning
A goal of many business owners is to someday transfer their business interest to either family members or key employees. By working with a client’s other professional advisors, or through relationships of our own, we help the business owner design a business continuity and/or succession plan. Then we work with the business owner to help implement the plan and provide them with funding alternatives. Buy/Sell Agreement funding strategies and key man insurance are available to help protect a business financially against the premature death or disability of a business stakeholder or key employee. In addition, our ability to provide tax-deferred funding vehicles for buy/sell agreements and business succession plans allows us to potentially help a client’s business both today – and tomorrow.
Financial and Investment Services
We recognize the commitment and responsibility we undertake when providing clients retirement planning, business succession planning, and investment services. Whether at a business or individual level, we listen closely to our clients’ objectives and help them choose appropriate high quality products and investments based on their risk tolerance and investment time horizon. We believe that the best relationships are long-term relationships – and we know that their success is based on trust, integrity, and responsiveness.