Disadvantages include the mandatory nature of employer contributions, which can be financially burdensome depending on the number of employees a company has. Safe Harbor is also not guaranteed to pass top-heavy tests.
A safe harbor 401(k) plan is similar to a traditional 401(k) plan, but, among other things, it must provide for employer contributions that are fully vested when made.
The main difference between a standard 401(k) and a Safe Harbor 401(k) boils down to employer contributions: while standard 401(k) plans allow for discretionary employer contributions, Safe Harbor 401(k) plans require the employer to make mandatory, fully vested contributions to satisfy IRS nondiscrimination testing.
Safe Harbor contribution limits In 2024, the basic employee deferral limits for a Safe Harbor plan are the same as any employer-sponsored 401(k): $23,000 per year for participants under age 50, and $30,500 when you include catch-up contributions for employees over age 50 or older.
Eligibility. You may retire at: Age 60, with 8 years of service credit. Any age, when your age (years & whole months) plus years of service credit (years & whole months) equal 85 years (1020 months) (Rule of 85).
Under ERISA, each fund is subject to additional requirements and obligations once more than 25 percent of the fund's assets under management (AUM) are subject to ERISA (the 25 percent threshold).
Businesses are required to participate in Secure Choice if they: Have been in operation for at least two years. Employed five or more people in every quarter of the previous year.
Illinois Secure Choice is a retirement savings program that's part of a larger state-wide retirement mandate. Employers who meet the eligibility criteria must either enroll their employees in Secure Choice or sponsor a qualified plan through the private market.