✶Free Resource
401(k) vs SIMPLE IRA: the strategic guide.
Retirement plans are more than compliance checkboxes. They are an extension of your company's values, and choosing the right path is a unique challenge for every founder.
The 401(k) vs SIMPLE IRA Strategic Comparison Guide is a free download from Balance, PLLC that compares SIMPLE IRA, traditional 401(k), and modern small business 401(k) platforms like Guideline, Human Interest, and Betterment for Work across cost, compliance burden, contribution potential, and administrative needs.
Inside the guide
- ✶ Side-by-side comparison of SIMPLE IRA, Traditional 401(k), and modern small business 401(k) platforms
- ✶ Clear breakdowns of cost, compliance burden, contribution potential, and administrative needs
- ✶ Special considerations for multistate employers
- ✶ Strategic recommendations matched to your company's stage and vision
- ✶ The compliance responsibilities you still hold as an employer, even with automated platforms
Free Download
Get the guide
Email Pam and the guide comes back to your inbox, usually same day, along with an open invitation to talk through which plan fits your team.
Request the Free GuideOffered in partnership with Balance PLLC. No spam, no drip campaign, just the guide.
✶Good Questions
Retirement plan basics
What is the main difference between a SIMPLE IRA and a 401(k)?
A SIMPLE IRA is cheaper and easier to run but caps employee contributions lower and requires employer contributions. A 401(k) allows much higher contributions and more design flexibility (Roth, profit sharing, vesting) but carries more compliance burden, though modern small-business platforms have shrunk that gap considerably.
What are modern small business 401(k) platforms?
Providers like Guideline, Human Interest, and Betterment for Work automate plan administration, recordkeeping, and much of the compliance work that used to make 401(k)s impractical for small teams, at flat monthly prices. The guide compares them side by side with SIMPLE IRA and traditional 401(k) options.
As the employer, what am I still responsible for?
Even with an automated platform you retain fiduciary responsibilities: timely deposits, accurate payroll integration, eligibility tracking, and required notices. The guide breaks down exactly which compliance responsibilities stay with you, and Balance manages the payroll side so deposits and deferrals stay clean.
Need a human opinion?
Pam has helped teams pick, launch, and run retirement plans alongside their payroll. Ask the question directly.