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Medical Practice Retirement Plans Retirement Plans for
Medical Practices
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ERISA Plans Built for Doctors 

At BGA, we design customized ERISA retirement plans tailored to the unique needs of medical practices, including doctors, dentists, surgeons, and other high-income professionals. We understand that managing a successful practice involves balancing operational responsibilities with tax planning and asset protection considerations. Our team works closely with medical professionals to evaluate retirement plan strategies that may provide opportunities for additional retirement contributions while supporting asset protection considerations and compliance with ERISA standards. 

Why Retirement Plans Matter
for Medical Practices

As a high earner in the medical field, you face specific financial challenges, including managing a high tax burden, planning for retirement, and addressing potential legal risks. A properly designed ERISA retirement plan may offer: 

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Our Specialized Approach for Medical Practices 

Our team brings experience in working with medical professionals, understanding the intricacies of practice ownership, partnership structures, and the financial goals of high earners. We offer: 

We work with medical practices to evaluate retirement plan structures, including 401(k) plans, profit-sharing plans, and cash balance plans, based on the goals and operational considerations of the practice. 

Our team also assists with reviewing contribution opportunities and plan features in accordance with applicable ERISA requirements 

Retirement plans can be designed to allow higher contribution levels, allowing you to defer additional income and invest your retirement assets tax-deferred. This strategy is especially beneficial for partners and high-earning professionals in high tax brackets.

ERISA Retirement plans may provide an additional layer  of asset protection while you focus on your practice.

We assist with the complexities of ERISA compliance in order to help reduce administrative burdens on you and your practice. We also offer fiduciary oversight. As fiduciaries, we are legally required to act in the best interests of the plan and its participants.

case study Retirement Plan Design for a Plastic Surgery Practice

A plastic surgery group with two physician partners wanted to evaluate whether a more advanced retirement plan design could better align with each partner’s financial goals.

One partner was nearing retirement and did not want to make additional retirement contributions. The other partner was younger, had significant taxable household income, and wanted to evaluate opportunities to defer more income, increase retirement savings, and reduce current tax exposure. Both partners were also interested in incorporating asset protection considerations into their planning.

 

The Challenge

High tax exposure, different retirement savings goals between partners, and a need to evaluate additional asset protection strategies.

The Solution

BGA presented a customized Cash Balance + 401(k) combination plan to evaluate opportunities to increase tax-deferred retirement savings for one partner while allowing the other partner to avoid participating in the cash balance portion of the plan.

The proposed design also included required employee contributions and annual testing considerations to help satisfy applicable retirement plan requirements.

The RESULT
  • The proposed plan design illustrated the potential for the younger partner to defer approximately $115,000 through combined 401(k), profit sharing, and cash balance plan contributions.
  • The cash balance component alone represented a projected additional contribution of $83,200 per year for the younger partner.
  • Using an assumed 40% tax rate, the projected current-year tax savings were approximately $85,000 for the younger partner.
  • The structure allowed the practice to evaluate a targeted retirement plan strategy that addressed partner-specific goals, tax-deferral opportunities, employee contribution requirements, and asset protection considerations.

*This case study is based on an anonymized client planning illustration. The client’s name and identifying details have been removed. The results shown are specific to the facts, census data, plan assumptions, compensation levels, and tax-rate assumptions used in the illustration and may not be representative of all situations.

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Why Work with BGA?

Our knowledge of ERISA plans, and our experience designing these plans for medical practices differentiates us from typical Wealth Management Firms. We understand the unique financial needs of doctors, dentists, and surgeons, and we are committed to helping you achieve your goals. Our team is here to provide guidance so that you can focus on your patients and your practice. 

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Evaluate Retirement Plan Options 

If you’re ready to explore a customized retirement plan for your practice, contact us today. Our team is here to discuss retirement plan options that take into account your tax planning needs, addresses asset protection considerations, and supports your long-term financial objectives.  

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