Running a small retail business in Maryland means juggling countless responsibilities, from managing inventory to ensuring exceptional customer service during peak tourist seasons—it's a lot to handle. That's why the Alliance of State Retail Associations 401k Plan & Trust, a closed Multiple Employer Plan (MEP) designed by retailers for retailers, is here to help. We understand the unique challenges Maryland retailers face, and our MEP retirement plan for small business is tailored to reduce the administrative burden 401k providers typically create. With our comprehensive solution, you can confidently provide small business retirement plans to your employees through 401k plan outsourcing that delivers real 401k plan cost savings, freeing up your time to focus on what truly matters: growing your Maryland business and serving your community.
Administrative relief and reduced fiduciary responsibility are two primary benefits for Maryland retail businesses joining our MEP retirement plan for small business. Here's how our structure streamlines your retirement plan management:
The plan's service providers handle all aspects of compliance testing, including preparing census data and providing documentation to the recordkeeper—a key advantage of 401k plan outsourcing. Maryland retailers can stop worrying about annual testing requirements and focus on running their stores.
By aggregating assets under a single plan, MEP adopters may achieve economies of scale typically enjoyed by much larger plans. This delivers 401k plan cost savings that lower investment and administrative fees and improve service levels for participants. Small Maryland retailers get the same pricing power as big box stores.
You no longer need to complete a Form 5500. A service provider on the plan files one form covering all adopting employers, helping to reduce administrative burden 401k plans typically require. This alone saves Maryland business owners hours of work each year.
Your organization can offload the required audit, which will be handled at the plan sponsor level. No more coordinating with auditors or gathering documentation—we take care of it all.
Eligible Maryland employers may receive a tax credit of up to $5,000 per year for the first three years of the plan, effectively covering a substantial portion of the administrative expenses associated with setting up and maintaining small business retirement plans. This credit helps Maryland retailers offset the initial costs of offering competitive benefits to their employees.
For eligible Maryland employers that make contributions to employee retirement accounts, such as a 401(k) or SIMPLE IRA, the SECURE 2.0 Act offers a credit equal to 100% of qualifying contributions made for employees who are eligible for the plan. This credit can be up to $1,000 per employee per year for the first five years the plan is in place, delivering significant 401k plan cost savings for Maryland retail businesses.
To facilitate informed decision-making, a complementary benchmark analysis can be provided for interested Maryland employers. This analysis will compare their current small business retirement plans features and costs against industry standards for retail businesses across Maryland and New England, highlighting areas for improvement and potential 401k plan cost savings. By understanding how their offerings stack up against other Maryland retailers, employers can make strategic adjustments to enhance their benefits package and identify opportunities to reduce administrative burden 401k plans typically create.
To facilitate informed decision-making, a complementary benchmark analysis can be provided for interested Maryland employers. This analysis will compare their current small business retirement plans features and costs against industry standards for retail businesses across Maryland and New England, highlighting areas for improvement and potential 401k plan cost savings. By understanding how their offerings stack up against other Maryland retailers, employers can make strategic adjustments to enhance their benefits package and identify opportunities to reduce administrative burden 401k plans typically create.
| Mep Advantage | Asra Included |
|---|---|
| Flexible Plan Design | |
| Eliminate Annual Audit | |
| Eliminate Form 5500 | |
| Eliminate Fidelity Bond | |
| Ellminate Fiduciary Liability Policy | |
| 3(38) Discretionary Investment Oversight | |
| Institutional Investment Menu | |
| 3(16) Plan Administration | |
| Payroll Integration Available | |
| BYOA (Bring Your Own Advisor) |
Our MEP retirement plan for small business provides Maryland retail employees with a modern, user-friendly plan portal that makes managing retirement savings simple and accessible, with real-time access to account balances, investment options, and personalized retirement planning tools. For Maryland employers, the portal streamlines plan administration and reduces administrative burden 401k management typically requires, with automated reporting, compliance tracking, and easy access to plan documents. This comprehensive digital experience ensures both Maryland retail employers and employees have the information and tools they need at their fingertips, making 401k plan outsourcing seamless and efficient.
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