Retirement plans are one of the few areas of the tax code where owners can direct a meaningful amount of business income into their own long-term savings on a tax-advantaged basis. The right plan depends on your income, your age, whether you have employees, how consistent your cash flow is, and how much administrative work you are willing to take on.
The guides in this hub compare the main plan types, from a simple SEP IRA to a solo 401(k), to more advanced defined benefit and cash balance designs. They also cover Roth conversions and the added rules that apply when a business has employees.
How to Use This Hub
Begin with the overview of retirement plans for business owners to see how the options differ. If you have no employees, read the solo 401(k) and SEP comparison guides. If your income is high and stable and you want to contribute more than the standard limits allow, the defined benefit and cash balance guides explain how those plans work and what commitments they carry.
Contribution limits are indexed and change over time, and plan design involves actuarial and administrative requirements, so figures in the guides are described in general terms. Confirm current limits and eligibility with your plan administrator and advisor.
Guides in Retirement Planning
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Book a Discovery CallEducational purposes only. This page is general education and is not tax, legal, or accounting advice. Tax laws change and outcomes depend on individual facts, so consult a qualified professional before acting. No result is guaranteed.
Focused implementation guides
Resolve the related evidence question before carrying a planning assumption into implementation.
- Retirement census reconciliation: A business considers a retirement contribution while employee records differ between payroll and administration.
- Owner retirement funding cash calendar: An owner wants to reserve cash for retirement contributions alongside payroll and tax payments.