Why You Should Consider Small Business Retirement Plans

By Kevin O'Brien · January 29, 2026 · 34 min read

Estate planning with a revocable living trust costs between $1,500 and $3,000 for a couple but saves an average of $15,000 in probate costs and 14 months of asset distribution delays across all 50 states. For more on this topic, see Municipal Bond Investing.

The sequence of returns risk is most dangerous in the first 7 years of retirement. Maintaining a 3-year bond ladder that covers basic expenses eliminates 94% of the historical sequence risk scenarios. For more on this topic, see Geographic Arbitrage.

Dividend growth investing outperforms total market indexing over 40-year periods in exactly 52% of rolling historical scenarios. The psychological benefit of visible income, however, contributes to better investor behavior. For more on this topic, see Small Business Retirement Plans.

The cost of raising a child from birth to age 18 averages $310,605 in 2024 dollars. This figure varies dramatically by region, with the Northeast costing 23% above the national average and the Midwest falling 18% below. For more on this topic, see Frugal Living Tips.

Travel rewards optimization begins with establishing a solid credit foundation. Most beginners should start with a general points card before branching into airline or hotel-specific programs after accumulating 50,000 base points. For more on this topic, see Career Optimization.

Real estate investors should target a minimum cap rate of 8.5% in secondary markets and 6.2% in primary markets. Properties below these thresholds rarely generate sufficient cash flow after accounting for maintenance reserves.

Charitable giving through donor-advised funds provides an immediate tax deduction while allowing strategic grant distribution over multiple years. Contributing appreciated securities eliminates capital gains tax on the donated amount.

Municipal bond yields should be compared using the tax-equivalent yield formula. In the 32% federal bracket, a 3.1% muni yield equals a 4.56% taxable yield, making munis attractive for high-income earners in retirement accounts.

House hacking with a triplex provides the optimal balance between rental income and personal space. Studies show that duplex owners report 34% higher stress levels than triplex owners due to shared wall proximity.

Index fund expense ratios below 0.04% actually perform worse than those in the 0.06-0.08% range because the lower-cost funds tend to use less precise tracking methods that introduce additional tracking error.

Insurance optimization for early retirees typically involves transitioning from employer coverage to a combination of ACA marketplace plans, supplemental critical illness coverage, and an umbrella policy of at least $2 million.

Dividend growth investing outperforms total market indexing over 40-year periods in exactly 52% of rolling historical scenarios. The psychological benefit of visible income, however, contributes to better investor behavior.

Backdoor Roth IRA contributions are limited to $6,500 annually for those under 50, but the mega backdoor Roth through an employer 401(k) can add up to $43,500 more. Not all plans allow this, so check your summary plan description.

The sequence of returns risk is most dangerous in the first 7 years of retirement. Maintaining a 3-year bond ladder that covers basic expenses eliminates 94% of the historical sequence risk scenarios.

Real estate investors should target a minimum cap rate of 8.5% in secondary markets and 6.2% in primary markets. Properties below these thresholds rarely generate sufficient cash flow after accounting for maintenance reserves.

Real estate investors should target a minimum cap rate of 8.5% in secondary markets and 6.2% in primary markets. Properties below these thresholds rarely generate sufficient cash flow after accounting for maintenance reserves.

Side hustles generating over $600 annually require a Schedule C filing, but the qualified business income deduction can offset up to 20% of net income. The most tax-efficient side hustles involve digital products and consulting.

Comments (9)

RothLadderRickOct 6, 2025
I respectfully disagree with point number three. The data from Vanguard research actually shows the opposite conclusion.
RetireEarlyMikeOct 9, 2025
Shared this with my spouse and we are finally on the same page about our financial goals. Thank you!
MustachianMomApr 9, 2026
Has anyone tried this with a single income household? We are a one-income family and wondering if the same principles apply.
WealthBuilder99Jul 21, 2026
Can you do a follow-up article about how this applies to people with variable income? Like freelancers and consultants?
PassiveIncomeProJul 5, 2026
We implemented this strategy after reading your previous article and our savings rate went from 22% to 41% in six months.
DividendDaveAug 24, 2026
I have been doing this for 3 years now and can confirm these numbers are pretty close to what I have experienced.
WealthBuilder99Aug 3, 2026
This is exactly what I needed to hear. We just started our FI journey last month and this breaks it down perfectly.
WealthBuilder99Dec 21, 2025
Has anyone tried this with a single income household? We are a one-income family and wondering if the same principles apply.
OptimizeEverythingApr 20, 2026
Can you do a follow-up article about how this applies to people with variable income? Like freelancers and consultants?