Lesson · Facts First
Cash Balance Plans
Profitable and consistently earning? A cash balance plan is the defined-benefit layer that dwarfs a 401(k) alone.
The facts
- 01A cash balance plan is a defined-benefit plan: the company contributes toward a promised account balance, and the deduction limits scale with age and the benefit target - established owners commonly shelter far more than the 401(k) 415(c) cap allows.
- 02It must be paired with a 401(k)/profit-sharing plan in practice, and actuary sign-off is mandatory - this is professional-administration territory.
- 03Best fit: stable, predictable profits with a 3-5 year commitment. Funding obligations do not pause because the year was weak.
- 04Owners with older age and high income get the largest deductions - the actuarial math front-loads benefits near retirement.
Sources
- IRC Sections 414(j), 404(a)(7) (combined plan limits)
- IRS: Defined Benefit Plans guidance
Educational content only — not tax, legal, investment, or VA-benefits advice. Figures verified against the cited sources for 2026; confirm your own situation with a qualified professional before acting.
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