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Pros

Cons

Easy Setup—Form 5304 SIMPLE, provided by the IRS is the form needed to set-up a SIMPLE IRA. This form will allow employees to choose where and how to invest in the SIMPLE IRA. Employers who wish choose to the financial institution for the plan will complete IRA form 5305-SIMPLE.

Affordable Setup—It is usually free to setup this type of small business retirement plan. If there is a cost associated with this plan, it can be written off as a business expense for tax purposes.

Affordable Maintenance—There will be no cost involved with maintenance of the plan since there is no administrator.

Easy Maintenance—Year-end paperwork for this plan is required, but it is simple and easy to read.

Higher Limits—This plan allows for contribution limits that are higher than traditional or Roth IRAs. In 2016 and 2017, employees could contribute up to $12,500. Also, employees over the age of 50 could make a catch-up contribution up to $3,000.

Matching Deductibles—Small business owners can use the money they put into these accounts as a tax-deductible business expense.

Mandatory Contributions—Employer contributions are mandatory regardless of how the business is performing.

Small Contribution Limits—Very low contributions limits make it difficult to effectively plan and save big for retirement.

Strict Opening Times—Accounts have to be opened by October 1 of each year to have an impact on taxes for the year.

Limited to smaller companies—This plan is limited to 100 or fewer employees. The plan will have to be changed if the business grows in the future.

Contributions count against 401K—For 2016 and 2017, the contribution limit for 401K plans is $18,000. Overall retirement options will be very limited due to this cap.

Stiff Penalties—Early withdraw from a SIMPLE IRA can be as high as 25%, as opposed to other retirement accounts which can be as high as 10%. Also, rollovers within the first two years of this type of plan will result in another stiff penalty.

Pros

Cons

Easy Setup—Similar to the SIMPLE IRA, the SEP can be easily set-up by completing IRS form 5305.

Affordable Setup—There are no administrative costs involved in the set-up. Also, small business owners can write-off any set costs as business expenses.

Easy Maintenance—Administration is simple and is not time-consuming.

Optional Contributions—Employees do not have to make contributions and there are also no set contribution amounts or percentages.

Tax Deductible—Contributions by the employee and employer are tax deductible.

Contributions do not affect other accounts—Unlike the SIMPLE IRA, contributions made to the SEP do not affect other retirement accounts.

Can be terminated at any time—The plan can be terminated if the business grows in the future.

Larger contributions—SEP contributions are relatively high. In 2017, the contribution limit is the lesser of 25% of the employee’s compensation or $54,000.

No employee contributions—Unlike the SIMPLE IRA, employees on this plan do not contribute anything. The small business is responsible for contributing 100%.

Contributions have to be equal—Contributions for the business owner and employees have to be the same. This can be very costly if the employer wants to keep their own contributions high.

All employees have to be included—Any eligible employee must be included in the plan. Eventually, it can become an expensive option if the business experiences growth in the future.

Pros

Cons

Increased Contribution Possibilities—If a contributor is married, both the contributor and spouse can contribute up to 20% of their total earnings.

Contributions are not set—Annual contributions are not set and are allowed to fluctuate if business profits are not ideal.

Tax Deductible—Contributions made to this plan can be deductible as a business expense.

Income Shelter—Contributions for the current year can be made all of the way up to April 15th of the next year. This helps tremendously in reducing a tax bill.

Can be complicated—It is not as simple to set-up and maintain as some of the other retirement options.

More costly—A plan administrator will be needed. It is more costly to maintain and set-up and administrator fees will have to be paid.

Mandatory reporting—Accounts with at least $250,000, it must be reported on form 550 every year.

Pros

Cons

Large contributions—This plan is very costly, but it allows for a large amount of savings for retirement. It is ideal for small business owners who have available funds to save for retirement.

Can be combined with other options—It can be combined with other plans such as the individual 401K or the SEP IRA and allows the business owner to save more for retirement.

Reduction of tax liability—Business expenses associated with the contributions can be written off and be used to reduce taxes.

High costs—An actuary will be needed to determine minimum funding level calculations each year.

Minimum funding required—During set-up, small business owners agree to meet minimum funding levels regardless of business performance.

Established minimum payouts—During set-up, payout amounts are determined and set-up. Amounts can only be withdrawn during retirement based on a set amount.

Not ideal for many employees—These planned are created for the whole business and have to be offered to everyone. Due to this, they can become very costly.