Show Notes
If your practice has been using the same retirement plan for years simply because "it works," you may be leaving valuable planning opportunities on the table.
On this episode of 20/20 Money: The Business of Optometry, I'm joined by Jared Porter, co-founder of 401GO, for a practical conversation about how much the qualified retirement plan landscape has changed—and why optometric practice owners should periodically reevaluate whether their current plan still fits their business. We discuss why SIMPLE IRAs may no longer be as "simple" or advantageous as many owners assume, how technology has reduced much of the administrative burden historically associated with 401(k) plans, and why payroll integration should be one of the most important considerations when evaluating a provider. We also unpack some of the planning opportunities created by recent retirement-plan legislation, including startup and auto-enrollment tax credits, increased contribution opportunities, plan-design flexibility, and the ability to use profit-sharing contributions as part of a broader tax and cash-flow strategy. Jared and I also dig into an increasingly popular strategy: the mega backdoor Roth. While it can be valuable in the right circumstances, we explain why after-tax contributions aren't automatically available—or advantageous—for every practice owner and how required nondiscrimination testing can quickly change the math. This episode isn't about convincing every practice owner that they need a 401(k). It's about understanding the options available today so you can make an educated and informed decision about whether your current retirement plan is still the right tool for your practice, your employees, and your own financial independence.
Some of the topics we cover include: Why SIMPLE IRAs can become limiting as a practice grows
How modern 401(k)s differ from the plans many owners remember from years ago
Payroll integration and what "360-degree integration" actually means
Auto-enrollment requirements and recent retirement-plan legislation
Tax credits that may offset the cost of establishing and operating a plan
Matching versus safe-harbor non-elective contributions
Using profit sharing as part of a practice owner's tax strategy
Why plan design should begin with the end in mind
Roth 401(k)s, after-tax contributions, and the mega backdoor Roth
The testing requirements that can derail an after-tax contribution strategy
NBS (Next Best Step): Pull out the details of your current retirement plan and ask your advisor to evaluate it based on today's rules—not the assumptions that were true when the plan was originally established. Specifically, review your contribution limits, employer contribution structure, payroll integration, investment flexibility, administrative costs, available tax credits, and whether profit sharing could improve your overall tax and retirement strategy.
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Resources: 401GO Link: 5 reasons why I hate the SIMPLE IRA Book a Triage call with Adam Download the Practice Owner's Financial Toolkit 20/20 Money Ultimate Financial Success Masterclass OD Mastermind Interest Form Check out Adam's book: How to Buy an Optometry Practice
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