A Financial Planners Guide to Cash Balance Plans Presented by: Charles Munsell.
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Transcript of A Financial Planners Guide to Cash Balance Plans Presented by: Charles Munsell.
A Financial Planners Guide to
Cash Balance Plans
www.nyhart.com
Presented by: Charles Munsell
Agenda Historical perspective
What are cash balance plans?
How do the plans work?
What is the role of the planner?
Real-world examples
Historical Perspective
Historical Perspective
Early 80’s a defined benefit plan was the clear solution for small professional corps
Legislation almost killed them overnight
Subsequent law changes have brought them back
Often not thought of as a solution, lost generation plus
What is a cash balance plan?
What is a Cash Balance
Plan?
A hybrid defined benefit plan
Looks and acts like a 401(k) plan from a benefits perspective
More robust from a funding perspective
Why a Cash Balance Plan?
Why a Cash Balance Plan?
A defined benefit plan
Can be leveraged with 401(k) plan
Combined plans tested as one
Much larger deductions available
Easy to understand
How do they work?
How do they work?
Takes advantage of defined benefit nature of plan
Takes advantage of nondiscrimination testing rules
Typically designed with owner focus
Why Defined Benefit?
Limit is on the benefit, not the contribution
Can fund towards target in excess of $2.5 million dollars for principal
How do we not
discriminate?
Plan must be non-discriminatory
IRS provides framework for testing
Take advantage of the “miracle” of compound interest
Pros & Cons Large contributions
are allowed
Investing for a pool
Benefits are fixed and guaranteed
Favorable Determination letter issued by IRS
× Contributions are mandatory under law
× Contributions could be volatile, based upon asset performance and interest rates
× Government insurance depending upon size and structure
Who is an ideal candidate for a cash balance plan?
• Doctors, dentists, lawyers, business owners and other high income professionals
• Entities with strong cash flow
• Entities looking for tax deductions and willing to save for retirement
• Owners who are older rather than younger
WH
O T
O
TAR
GET?
Why would a client want a cash balance
plan?
3REASONSWhy a client wants a cash balance plan:
1. The contributions are tax deductible.
2. The contributions are tax deductible.
3. The contributions are tax deductible.
Cash Balance Plan 415 Dollar Limits for 2015
Age Limit Age Limit Age Limit
35 $68,369
36 $71,838 46 $117,962 56 $194,048
37 $75,484 47 $123,973 57 $203,968
38 $79,317 48 $130,292 58 $214,397
39 $83,346 49 $136,936 59 $225,362
40 $87,581 50 $143,921 60 $236,891
41 $92,034 51 $151,265 61 $249,013
42 $96,714 52 $158,987 62 $261,757
43 $101,634 53 $167,105 63 $256,128
44 $106,807 54 $175,640 64 $250,416
45 $112,245 55 $184,613 65 $244,579
Any other reasons?
This is a Qualified Plan as defined by the IRS
Assets protected from creditors
Rollover and continued deferral of taxes available upon distribution from plan
Provides a significant retirement benefit
What is the planner’s role?
Handle investments
Fiduciary consulting
Plan sponsor education (but no participant education)
Estate planning considerations
How are the investments
different?
No participant direction of investments
Investments are in a pool and invested for the pool
Goal is not necessarily maximum return
Many plans are structured to reduce volatility
Plans tend to be conservatively invested
LET’S LOOK AT A COUPLE OF SCENARIOS
Case Study
22
• Dr. Martin makes $500,000/yr
• Staff of 3 employees, total payroll = $129,927
• Maximum 401(k) limitation is $53k for 2015
• Typical design would be a 401k safe harbor and new comparability design ($53k max)
CA
SE S
TU
DY
CA
SE S
TU
DY
Name Salary 401k DCCash
Balance Total*Tax
Savings
Dr. Martin $500,000 $24,000 $7,950 $205,800 $237,750 $95,100
Employee1 $61,154 $0 $4,113 $1,500 $5,613 $2,245
Employee 2 $29,023 $0 $4,975 $726 $5,701 $2,280
Employee 3 $39,750 $0 $2,674 $994 $3,667 $1,467
Total Staff $129,927 $0 $11,762 $3,220 $14,981 $5,992
Grand Total
$252,731 $101,092
Percent To Target 94%
*Assuming a 40% tax rate; taxes are deferred only.
– Dr. Martin receives $237,750 contribution rather than a maximum $53,000 contribution to a 401k plan
– 94% of total contribution went to owner
– Tax savings of $101,092 more than paid for employee cost to get there
– Design choices can skinny costs further depending upon circumstancesC
AS
E S
TU
DY Interpretation
• Physician group with 13 partners
• Staff of 10 employees
• Maximum 401(k) limitation is $53k for 2015
• Typical design would be a 401k safe harbor and new comparability design ($53k max)
CA
SE S
TU
DY
CA
SE S
TU
DY
Name 401k DCCash
Balance Total*Tax
Savings
Each Partner
$18,000 -$24,000
$35,000 $51,000 - $250,000
$104,000 - $309,000
Total Partners
$237,000 $440,500 $1,460,700 $2,138,200 $855,280
Total Staff $0 $88,480 $6,300 $94,780 $37,912
Grand Total $237,000 $528,980 $1,467,000 $2,232,980 $893,192
Percent To Target 96%
*Assuming a 40% tax rate; taxes are deferred only.
– 12 of 13 partners receive maximum contribution based upon their age with cash balance plan rather than a maximum $53,000 contribution to a 401k plan
– 96% of total contribution went to the physician group
– Tax savings of $893,192 more than paid for employee cost to get thereC
AS
E S
TU
DY Interpretation
In ConclusionCash balance plans provide large tax benefits to owners
Cash balance plans provide large retirement accounts
Qualified plan with the IRS
Receives a determination letter from the IRS
ANY QUESTIONS?This concludes our discussion
Charles [email protected](317) 845-3570