For professional services firms
A 401(k) for your firm.
Law, accounting, consulting and engineering firms often pair well-paid partners with a salaried staff. A clear proposal shows how one plan serves both, what it costs and who does the work.
What a good proposal shows.
Costs in writing
Administrative and investment fees, set beside the services you receive.
A fit for owners and staff
Plan options weighed against your staff, your partners and how much the owners want to save. Firms often look at safe harbor and profit sharing designs, and some partners add a cash balance plan.
Clear responsibilities
Who handles setup, payroll, recordkeeping, testing and filings, and what stays with the company.
What's different for professional services firms.
The parts of a plan that matter most in your line of work.
Partners who want to save more
Nondiscrimination testing limits how far a plan can favor higher earners. Safe harbor and profit sharing designs are the usual ways to let owners save more within the rules.
A partnership that changes
Admitting or losing a partner can change who counts as an owner in the plan's testing. A plan specialist reviews the design when ownership changes.
Staff who compare offers
Associates and staff weigh a firm's match and vesting against other offers. A vesting schedule decides how much of the company's contributions someone keeps when they leave. Employees' own contributions are always fully theirs.
Common questions.
Can partners save more than staff?
We already have a plan. Can you compare it?
More questions about cost, switching and plan rules
- Internal Revenue Service, Retirement topics: Vesting, read Oct 20, 2026.
- Cost comparisons depend on each plan's services and written fee disclosures. The proposal and applicable agreements identify the advisory entity, provider responsibilities and fees.
See a plan in writing.
Tell us about the company and what a written proposal should cover.