A 401(k) allows business owners and employees to save up to $57,000 annually through tax-free salary deferrals, matching, and profit-sharing. While all 401(k)s follow IRS rules, choosing the right provider—particularly for a solo 401(k)—is very important. We’ve reviewed more than two dozen 401(k) companies to arrive at list of the 10 best providers. Top 401(k)…
Personal Finance
What Is a Bad Credit Score?
FICO credit scores below 580 and VantageScores below 601 are typically considered poor or bad credit. Bad credit can prevent you from getting loans, credit cards, or even renting property. You can avoid bad credit status by using less than 30% of your total available credit and by consistently paying debt on time. What Is…
Top 17 Tips for Buying & Selling Stocks
One important rule for investing in the stock market is to buy low and sell high. However, you can’t predict when the stock prices will go up or down. While there’s no definite way to time your trades perfectly, there are some tips for buying stocks that can help you make better decisions. Here are…
The 5 C’s of Credit: What Banks & Lenders Actually Look For
The 5 C’s of credit are character, capacity, capital, conditions, and collateral. Together, these serve as a way for lenders to evaluate the creditworthiness of potential borrowers. Banks and lenders generally look at your ability to repay, level of debt, how you plan to use the funds, and the collateral you have to offer. The…
SEP IRA Rules, Contribution Limits, & Deadlines
A SEP IRA is an employer-sponsored retirement plan allowing business owners with 0 – 5 employees defer large amounts of income. A SEP lets employers and the self-employed contribute $56,000 or 25% of their taxable income each year – $50,000 more than Traditional IRAs. To use SEPs, employers must make proportional contributions to all full-time…
SIMPLE IRA Rules, Providers, Contribution Limits & Deadlines
SIMPLE IRAs are employer-sponsored retirement plans allowing participants to save up to $26,000 pre-tax in deferrals and matching. Using a SIMPLE IRA, employers must match employee deferrals on a dollar-for-dollar basis between 1% – 3%. To use a SIMPLE IRA, employers must implement their plan before October 1 of the year it becomes effective. How…
Free SEP IRA Calculator
How to Read Your SEP IRA Calculator Results Suggested Employer SEP IRA Contribution: Your suggested contribution should be the same as the desired amount that you input unless your desired contribution exceeds 25 percent of income or $55,000. If your income is too low, your desired contribution may be too high. If your suggested…
Keogh Plan: Contribution Limits, Rules & Deadlines
A Keogh plan is a qualified retirement plan that allows self-employed individuals up to $56,000 per year in tax-deductible contributions. Keogh plans have largely been replaced by alternatives, including SEP IRAs and Solo 401(k)s, because tax laws now allow business owners who used to use Keoghs to use other plans instead. What a Keogh Plan…
Free SIMPLE IRA Calculator & Contribution Limits
How to Read Your SIMPLE IRA Calculator Results Some rules of thumb for reading the SIMPLE IRA contribution calculator results include: Annual SIMPLE IRA Contributions: SIMPLE IRA contributions should be at least 3 percent of annual compensation or $5,000. If they’re more than $20,000, or 8 percent to 10 percent of your employee income,…
Fiduciary Financial Advisor: What It Is, Duties & Obligations
A fiduciary financial advisor is an investment professional who is licensed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or state regulators. Fiduciary advisors are important for clients because they are legally required to put clients’ interests ahead of their own. Using a fiduciary is important if you want an advisor to manage your…
Employee Stock Ownership Plan: How ESOPs Work & Who They’re Right For
An employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) is a qualified defined-contribution employee benefit plan that provides the employees of a business an ownership interest in that business. An ESOP is used by employers to either reward employees or as an exit strategy from business ownership. If owned by an ESOP, the business can receive great tax…
Top 25 Investment Strategies for Small Business Owners
As a small business owner, it’s important to understand how to invest your capital wisely and how to diversify your funds to attain financial stability in your personal life. We spoke with 25 experts who shared different investment strategies to help you grow your business and achieve a healthy financial future. Below are the 25…