See how business owners and high-income earners have used advanced retirement plan design to maximize tax-deductible contributions, build wealth on a tax-deferred basis, and reduce current-year taxable income.
20 highlighted engagements demonstrating tailored retirement plan strategies for business owners and high earners.
A surgeon earning $1.2M through a single-member S-Corp implemented a defined benefit plan allowing $350,000 in annual tax-deductible contributions, reducing federal taxable income by nearly 30% and generating $150,000 in first-year tax savings.
A three-partner law firm implemented a cash balance plan layered on top of a 401(k) profit sharing plan. Each partner contributed $290,000 annually on a tax-deductible basis while minimizing required contributions for non-partner employees.
A self-employed management consultant with $280,000 in Schedule C income established a Solo 401(k) with both employee deferrals and employer profit sharing, contributing the maximum $69,000 and reducing taxable income by nearly 25%.
A business owner earning $450,000 utilized the mega backdoor Roth conversion within their company's 401(k) plan, contributing after-tax dollars and converting $40,000 annually to Roth status for tax-free growth and withdrawal in retirement.
An independent real estate agent with $310,000 in 1099 income and no employees chose the simplicity of a SEP IRA, contributing 25% of net self-employment income for a $66,000 deduction and $23,000 in tax savings with minimal administration.
With only ten years until planned retirement, this 55-year-old business owner implemented a defined benefit plan designed to catch up on retirement savings, allowing $320,000 in annual contributions due to the compressed funding window and higher actuarial limits.
A C-suite executive at a publicly traded company enrolled in the employer's NQDC plan, deferring $200,000 of annual bonus compensation to a future year when they expected to be in a lower tax bracket, creating a $74,000 annual tax timing benefit.
A multi-dentist practice designed a cash balance plan that allowed each dentist to contribute $260,000 annually while keeping required staff contributions under $15,000 total. The plan reduced the practice's combined tax liability by $285,000 in year one.
An S-Corp owner restructured their reasonable compensation to optimize the balance between payroll taxes and 401(k) profit sharing contribution limits, achieving $69,000 in total plan contributions while minimizing FICA exposure and saving $28,000 in taxes.
A solo physician with no employees combined a defined benefit plan with a 401(k) profit sharing plan, stacking contributions to reach $340,000 in total tax-deductible retirement savings in the first plan year, reducing their effective tax rate from 37% to 24%.
During a business transition year with temporarily reduced income, our team executed $180,000 in Roth conversions at the 24% bracket instead of the client's typical 37% bracket, locking in $23,400 in permanent tax savings on the converted amount.
A registered investment advisor earning $900,000 annually implemented a cash balance plan that allowed $285,000 in personal contributions while limiting total employee contributions to $22,000, delivering $114,000 in annual tax savings.
A married couple operating a consulting LLC as co-owners each established Solo 401(k) accounts, contributing $69,000 apiece for a combined $138,000 in retirement savings and $48,000 in tax reductions without any employee coverage requirements.
After five years of maximum contributions totaling $1.4M in tax-deductible deposits, the client terminated their defined benefit plan and rolled the entire balance to a self-directed IRA, preserving tax-deferred status and gaining full investment control.
A client on extension established and funded a SEP IRA before the October filing deadline, contributing $55,000 retroactively for the prior tax year. This last-minute strategy reduced their tax bill by $20,000 and avoided an estimated tax penalty.
A retiring executive structured their nonqualified deferred compensation distributions to begin three years after retirement, coinciding with a period of reduced income. The timing strategy saved $62,000 in taxes compared to immediate distribution.
The owner of a veterinary clinic with twelve employees designed a combined cash balance and 401(k) arrangement, contributing $275,000 personally while meeting nondiscrimination testing requirements and keeping total staff contributions manageable at $35,000.
Both spouses worked at companies offering 401(k) plans with generous matching. Our team coordinated contribution strategies across both plans to capture the full employer match while maximizing tax-deductible contributions at $69,000 each, saving $48,000 in taxes.
A solo management consultant earning $800,000 annually established a defined benefit plan with no employees to cover, allowing $300,000 in annual contributions. The plan reduced the consultant's effective tax rate by 12 percentage points in the first year.
An e-commerce business owner contributed $69,000 to a self-directed Solo 401(k), including $30,000 as after-tax contributions immediately converted to Roth. The Roth funds were invested in a real estate syndication for tax-free growth and future tax-free distributions.
Our team designs custom retirement plans that minimize taxes today while building long-term wealth. Schedule a free consultation to explore your options.
Schedule Free Consultation