Traditional Defined Benefit Plan FAQs

Traditional Defined Benefit Plans

Defined Benefit Plan contributions are a function of both compensation and age. The older you are, the more you can contribute.

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Absolutely! In fact, administration of a Defined Benefit Plan is very streamlined and easy for a company with no employees.
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While Defined Benefit Plans do have minimum required contributions, there is also a fair amount of flexibility both in the plan design and in contribution policy that can assure that the annual minimum is well within your comfort level. You also are allowed to significantly front-load the contributions creating a reserve that lowers future funding requirements. It is not unusual for a 3 or 4-year-old Defined Benefit Plan that has been well funded to have a zero required minimum contribution but a maximum deductible contribution of several hundred thousand dollars.
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If your business is a “Specified Service Business” and is an S corp, partnership or sole proprietorship, a large pension plan deduction could bring your adjusted gross income below the applicable threshold under section 199A of the new tax law ($315,000 if married filing jointly, $157,500 if single). This will allow you to take advantage of the special 20% deduction. Read our July 2018 Pension Trends Newsletter for a more in depth look at the deductions under the new tax law.
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Generally, you should be prepared to sponsor the plan for at least 3 – 5 plan years.
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No. Once you are ready to retire or stop making contributions, you can terminate the plan, convert the benefit to a Lump Sum equivalent amount and roll those funds into an IRA. This will preserve the tax deferred status of the assets without requiring the business to continue maintaining a qualified plan.
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Retirement rules require that you cover at least a certain number of your employees. The number of employees as well as the amount of benefit you must provide depends on your company’s specific demographics. For an idea on what this might mean for your company, call one of our consultants at 503.520.0848.
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Defined Benefit Plan benefits can be based on the highest three consecutive years of compensation in your entire history with your business. This means as long as you have significant compensation in the past, you do not need current compensation to make a significant contribution. This is one of the principal advantages of a Defined Benefit Plan over a Defined Contribution Plan!
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The process required to terminate a plan depends on your type of business and whether or not you have employees. Contact one of our consultants to discuss your particular circumstances.
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Yes. Although we recommend that benefit levels not be changed too frequently, a Defined Benefit Plan can generally be amended to increase, decrease or even eliminate benefits for any or all participants. Note though that such changes cannot reduce any benefits that have already been earned.
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Feel free to call one of our consultants at 503.520.0848 or send us an email. We do not charge for an initial consultation or plan design recommendation.
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Retirement plans are permitted to invest in real estate, but it is rarely the best idea for small plans. Read our September 2014 Pension Trends Newsletter for more details on the pros and cons of this type of investment.
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You can take a loan from the plan if your plan provisions allow for this. There are certain limits and other requirements that must be met to avoid taxes or penalties.
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Not at all! We set up over 79 new plans for small businesses last year.
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Annual administration fees start at $2,750 per year. For a more specific quote contact us or give us a call at 503.520.0848.
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