State Retirement Mandate Compliance

Attention Real Estate, Insurance, Legal & Accounting Firms: State Fines Are Increasing

Professional service firms with 5+ employees are subject to state retirement mandates. Flat-fee compliance plans starting at $1,500. Maximize SECURE 2.0 credits.

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Why It Matters

The Challenges Professional Services Owners Face

Most state mandates impose fines of $250–$500 per employee per year for non-compliance. The good news: setting up a qualifying retirement plan exempts you immediately — and federal SECURE 2.0 tax credits can offset up to $15,000 of your startup costs.

Flat-Fee Pricing

No AUM Minimums. One Flat Fee.

Unlike commission-based advisors, we charge a single flat fee — no percentage of assets, no hidden costs. SECURE 2.0 credits can cover most or all of your first three years.

Business Size Setup Fee Annual Flat SECURE 2.0 Credits
5–15 employees $1,500 $600/yr up to $15,000
16–30 employees $2,500 $900/yr up to $15,000
31–75 employees $3,500 $1,500/yr up to $15,000

*SECURE 2.0 Act credits available to employers with 100 or fewer employees. Credits apply to startup costs for the first 3 years. Consult a tax advisor for specifics.

How It Works

Get Compliant in 3 Simple Steps

1

Free Compliance Audit

We review your state's mandate requirements, your employee count, and your current retirement setup — at no cost.

2

Custom Plan Design

We design a flat-fee retirement plan optimized for your business size, budget, and owner contribution goals.

3

File State Exemption

We handle the mandate exemption filing and ensure you maximize your SECURE 2.0 federal tax credits — often worth $5,000–$15,000.

Start With a Free Audit →

Frequently Asked Questions

Professional Services Retirement Plan FAQs

Does the state retirement mandate apply to real estate agencies and law firms?
Yes. State retirement mandates apply to all private employers meeting the employee threshold, including real estate brokerages, insurance agencies, law firms, accounting practices, and consulting firms. Professional licensure or practice structure does not create an exemption.
I have independent contractor agents — do they count toward the employee threshold?
Generally no — 1099 independent contractors are not counted as employees for mandate threshold purposes. Only W-2 employees count. However, this depends on proper classification. If your state or the IRS would classify your 'contractors' as employees, you could face both tax and mandate compliance issues. We'll help you assess your specific situation.
What's the best retirement plan for a 5-person insurance agency?
For a 5-person insurance agency, a SIMPLE IRA offers the best combination of low cost, ease of administration, and compliance. For higher-earning principals who want to maximize personal contributions, a Safe Harbor 401(k) with profit-sharing allows much higher annual contributions (up to $66,000). We'll recommend the right plan during your free audit.
Can a small law firm get SECURE 2.0 tax credits?
Yes. Law firms and accounting practices with 100 or fewer employees that establish a new retirement plan qualify for SECURE 2.0 startup credits of up to $5,000/year for 3 years, plus $500/year for auto-enrollment. For a 5–10 person firm, this can more than offset the entire cost of the plan for years 1–3.
How quickly can I get compliant if my state deadline has already passed?
Getting compliant retroactively is possible and often still beneficial. Many states focus enforcement on current non-compliance rather than retroactive penalties. Establishing a qualifying plan now stops the fine clock immediately. We can often set up a new plan and file your exemption within 2–4 weeks of your free audit.

Ready to Get Compliant?

Book a free 20-minute compliance audit. We'll tell you exactly what your state requires, what it costs, and how federal tax credits can cover most of it.

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Explore More

Helpful Resources

States with Active Mandates

Local Coverage

Other Resources