Employer Retirement Planning
Employer Retirement Planning Built for Your Business — and the People Who Depend on It
Your retirement plan is one of the most valuable benefits you can offer your team. We help small business owners in Arizona design, launch, and manage employer retirement plans that work — for your employees and for your own long-term financial picture.
Employer Retirement Plans include both Defined Contribution Plans: 401(k), 403(b), 457, SIMPLE IRA & SEP IRA, Profit-Sharing & ESOPs, as well as Defined Benefit Plans: Traditional Pensions, Cash Balance Plans
Most employer retirement plans sold to small businesses are designed by advisors who earn commissions on the products inside them. That creates a conflict of interest that often goes unnoticed until it shows up in fees your employees are paying for years.
As a fee-only, fiduciary advisor, we have no financial incentive to recommend one fund family over another. Our only job is to build and manage a plan that genuinely serves your business — and your people.
- No commissions on plan investments or fund selections
- Fiduciary obligation to act in your employees' best interest, not a product provider's
- Transparent, flat advisory fees so you always know what you're paying and why
- Ongoing plan oversight, not a one-time setup and goodbye
- Coordination with your existing CPA, payroll provider, and benefits team
What 401(k) Plan Management Includes
We work with you from the initial design decision through ongoing administration support — so you're not left managing a complex plan on your own.
Plan Design and Setup
We help you choose the right plan structure for your business size, cash flow, and goals — including safe harbor provisions, employer match options, and vesting schedules that attract and retain employees.
Investment Menu Curation
We build a fund lineup that gives your employees meaningful, low-cost options without overwhelming them. We review and update the menu regularly to make sure it stays appropriate as markets and fund options evolve.
Fiduciary Documentation and Compliance Support
Running a 401(k) plan comes with legal responsibilities. We help you maintain the documentation and processes that demonstrate you're meeting your fiduciary obligations as the plan sponsor.
Employee Education
A plan your employees don't understand is a plan they won't use. We provide plain-language education so your team actually engages with the benefit you're offering them.
Coordination with Your Business Financial Plan
For business owners, the employer 401(k) is rarely the only retirement vehicle in play. We integrate your plan strategy with your personal financial planning — including SEP-IRA, Solo 401(k), or defined benefit options where applicable.
Why Small Business Owners in Arizona Choose Allen Financial Partners
We understand that a 401(k) plan isn't just a checkbox. For many business owners, it's one of the most significant tools available for building personal wealth while doing right by their team.
Our background in both business and financial planning means we approach employer retirement plans from both sides of the table — as a plan advisor and as someone who understands the financial pressures of running a business.
We serve business owners across Prescott, Flagstaff, Scottsdale, and Phoenix, as well as clients throughout the broader Arizona market and nationally.
Common Questions About Small Business 401(k) Plans
How much does it cost to set up a 401(k) plan for a small business?
Setup costs vary depending on the plan type, recordkeeper, and advisory structure you choose. As a fee-only advisor, we charge a transparent advisory fee — not commissions — so you'll know exactly what our involvement costs. Many small businesses are also eligible for federal tax credits that offset startup expenses for new retirement plans.
What's the difference between a 401(k) and a SEP-IRA for a small business owner?
Both can be effective retirement savings vehicles, but they differ in contribution limits, employee eligibility rules, and administrative complexity. A 401(k) generally allows higher combined contributions and more flexibility in plan design, while a SEP-IRA is simpler to administer. The right choice depends on your business structure, number of employees, and personal retirement goals — we walk through this with every business owner we work with.
Do I have fiduciary responsibility as a plan sponsor?
Yes. As the employer offering the plan, you carry legal obligations to act in your employees' best interest when making decisions about plan design and investments. Working with a fiduciary advisor helps you document your process and demonstrate that you're meeting those obligations — which matters if your plan is ever audited or questioned.
Can you work with our existing payroll provider and CPA?
Yes. We coordinate with your existing team rather than replacing them. Our role is plan design, investment oversight, and fiduciary support — your payroll provider handles contribution processing, and your CPA handles the tax side. We make sure everyone is working from the same playbook.
Is this service available outside of Prescott?
We work with business owners across Arizona — including Flagstaff, Scottsdale, and Phoenix — and serve clients nationally. If you're outside our local area, we're set up to work with you remotely without any gap in service.
