Part of the Small Business Job Protection Act, this type of 401(k) makes it easier for small businesses to offer retirement plans to their employees.

Basic matching safe harbor: A basic matching safe harbor 401(k) provides a 100% match of the first 3% of an employee's contributions. After that, employees receive a 50% match for the next 2% ...

A 401(k) plan is a widely used type of employer-sponsored retirement plan that allows employees to set aside pre-tax dollars for their retirement. Safe harbor 401(k) plans are a special type of ...

Enhanced safe harbor: As another type of elective plan, enhanced safe harbor 401(k) plans meet or exceed what is offered in a basic plan. Typically, they provide a 100% match of up to 4% of an ...

This is quite different from Safe Harbor 401(k)s. With a Safe Harbor plan, a three to four percent match is typically required and employer matching contributions are vested immediately ...

Safe harbor 401(k) plans require an initial plan year at least three months long, making October 1 the effective deadline for establishing a new safe harbor plan in 2014. ShareBuilder 401k, a ...

The Safe Harbor 401(k) is a type of retirement plan designed to provide employers with a simple way to bypass annual nondiscrimination testing. This testing is a complex process that ensures ...

However, safe harbor 401(k) plans, typically used by small businesses, require that the employer make either a matching contribution or a nonelective contribution. Similar rules apply to any 401(k ...

I have recently had two separate employers tell me that they wanted to stop making safe harbor matching contributions to participants in their 401(k) retirement plans in the middle of a plan year.

Notably, the safe harbor 401(k) plan requires employers to match employee contributions up to certain limits. Other 401(k) plans do not mandate an employer match.

Basic matching safe harbor: A basic matching safe harbor 401(k) provides a 100% match of the first 3% of an employee's contributions. After that, employees receive a 50% match for the next 2% ...

— Enhanced safe harbor:As another type of elective plan, enhanced safe harbor 401(k) plans meet or exceed what is offered in a basic plan. Typically, they provide a 100% match of up to 4% of an ...