David Wray, the president of the Plan Sponsor Council of America, once said that the purpose of profit-sharing plans is “to generate goodwill and a feeling of partnership” between employer and employee. Profit-sharing plans give employees a share in the profits of a company each year and can help fund their retirements.

All the money contributed to a profit-sharing plan accumulates tax deferred, as it does with other defined-contribution retirement plans, but employer contributions are tax deductible only if the plan is defined as an elective deferral plan, which means that instead of accepting their profit shares as cash, employees defer the assets into retirement funds.

Profit sharing is attractive to business owners because of its flexibility. Employers can choose how much to allot to employees each year based on the amount of revenue taken in. There is no required minimum. If the company has a bad year, the employer has the option of giving very little or nothing at all to employee accounts.

Employees are usually enrolled automatically in profit sharing once they become eligible. Companies can choose eligibility requirements based on age and length of service. A company is allowed to contribute up to 25% of an employee’s salary or $69,000 (whichever is less) in 2024 (up from $66,000 in 2023). This amount is indexed annually for inflation.

Typically, companies set up vesting schedules that dictate how long workers must be employed in order to claim profit-sharing contributions when they move to another job or retire. Once employees are fully vested, they can take the entire amount contributed on their behalf and roll it over to an IRA or to a new employer’s qualified retirement plan.

If you participate in a profit-sharing plan, you may begin withdrawing funds after age 59½ without incurring a 10% federal tax penalty. Withdrawals are taxed as ordinary income. Some plans may allow early withdrawals. Profit-sharing providers have greater flexibility when it comes to deciding the terms of early withdrawal than do administrators of other plans, such as 401(k)s. However, the trend has been to permit no early withdrawals.

Generally, you must begin taking required minimum distributions after reaching age 73 (for individuals who reach age 72 after December 31, 2022). If you attained age 72 in 2022 or earlier, you are already required to take annual RMDs. The RMD age will rise to 75 in 2033. You can elect to withdraw the assets as a lump sum and be taxed on the entire value of the fund or you can set up a minimum distribution schedule based on your life expectancy.

Some companies offer a combination arrangement with both a profit-sharing plan and a 401(k). A conjoined plan allows employers to contribute as much or as little as they would like each year, while giving employees a way to supplement their retirement funds.

If you are a business owner, profit sharing may be a way to attract high-caliber employees. It provides retirement funds for your employees yet still gives you the freedom to choose how much you wish to contribute each year.

When selecting ways to invest your cash reserve, you should balance your liquidity needs with potential returns. Short-term investment instruments, such as Treasury bills, certificates of deposit, and money market mutual funds, can provide you with the liquidity needed to meet expected and unexpected expenses and to increase your short-term investment income.

By actively managing your short-term reserves, you can provide a means of saving for the future. You can use this money to increase your net worth with little or no additional risk to your principal. It’s important to remember that because income and personal circumstances are subject to change, you should conduct a periodic review of your cash reserve and its structure.

Note: Treasury bills are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government as to the timely payment of principal and interest.

Note: Bank CDs are insured by the FDIC for up to $250,000 per depositor, per federally insured institution.

Money market funds are neither insured nor guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Although money market funds seek to preserve the value of your investment at $1 per share, it is possible to lose money by investing in a money market fund.

Mutual funds are sold by prospectus. Please consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses carefully before investing. The prospectus, which contains this and other information about the investment company, can be obtained from your financial professional. Be sure to read the prospectus carefully before deciding whether to invest.