Pros and Cons of OregonSaves for Small Businesses
Answers to frequently asked questions about the OregonSaves retirement program for small businesses.
By
Betterment Editors
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Pros and Cons of OregonSaves for Small Businesses Sep 16, 2022 10:36:00 AM Answers to frequently asked questions about the OregonSaves retirement program for small businesses. Launched in 2017, OregonSaves was the first state-based retirement savings program in the country and has since surpassed managing $100 million in assets. Employers with 5 or more employees are already required to offer a plan; for employers with 4 employees or fewer, the deadline is March 1, 2023. If you’re wondering whether OregonSaves is the best choice for your employees, read on for answers to frequently asked questions. 1. Do I have to offer my employees OregonSaves? No. Oregon laws require businesses to offer retirement benefits, but you don’t have to elect OregonSaves. If you provide a 401(k) plan (or another type of employer-sponsored retirement program), you may request an exemption. 2. What is OregonSaves? OregonSaves is a Payroll Deduction IRA program—also known as an “Auto IRA” plan. Under an Auto IRA plan, you must automatically enroll your employees into the program. Specifically, the Oregon plan requires employers to automatically enroll employees at a 5% deferral rate with automatic, annual 1% increases until their savings rate reaches 10%. All contributions are invested into a Roth IRA. As an eligible employer, you must facilitate the program, set up the payroll deduction process, and send the contributions to OregonSaves. The first $1,000 of an employee’s contributions will be invested in the OregonSaves Capital Preservation Fund, and savings over $1,000 will be invested in an OregonSaves Target Retirement Fund based on age. Employees retain control over their Roth IRA and can customize their account by selecting their own contribution rate and investments—or by opting out altogether. (They can also opt out of the annual increases.) 3. Why should I consider OregonSaves? OregonSaves is a simple, straightforward way to help your employees save for retirement. Brought to you by Oregon State Treasury, the program is overseen by the Oregon Retirement Savings Board and administered by a program service provider. As an employer, your role is limited and there are no fees to provide OregonSaves to your employees. 4. Are there any downsides to OregonSaves? Yes, there are factors that may may make OregonSaves less appealing than other retirement plans. Here are some important considerations: OregonSaves is a Roth IRA, which means it has income limits—If your employees earn above a certain threshold, they will not be able to participate in OregonSaves. For example, single filers with modified adjusted 2022 gross incomes of more than $144,000 would not be eligible to contribute. However, 401(k) plans aren’t subject to the same income restrictions. OregonSaves is not subject to worker protections under ERISA—Other tax-qualified retirement savings plans—such as 401(k) plans—are subject to ERISA, a federal law that requires fiduciary oversight of retirement plans. Employees don’t receive a tax benefit for their savings in the year they make contributions—Unlike a 401(k) plan—which allows both before-tax and after-tax contributions—OregonSaves only allows after-tax (Roth) contributions. Investment earnings within a Roth IRA are tax-deferred until withdrawn and may eventually be tax-free. Contribution limits are far lower—IRA contribution limits are lower than 401(k) limits. The maximum may increase annually, based on cost-of-living adjustments (COLA), but not always. (The maximum contribution limits for IRAs stayed stagnant from 2019 through 2021 and increased slightly in 2022.) So even if employees max out their contribution to OregonSaves, they may still fall short of the amount of money they’ll likely need to achieve a financially secure retirement. No employer matching and/or profit sharing contributions—Employer contributions are a major incentive for employees to save for their future. 401(k) plans allow you the flexibility of offering employer contributions; however, OregonSaves does not. Limited investment options—OregonSaves offers a relatively limited selection of investments, which may not be appropriate for all investors. Typical 401(k) plans offer a much broader range of investment options and often additional resources such as managed accounts and personalized advice. Potentially higher fees for employees—There is no cost to employers to offer OregonSaves; however, employees do pay approximately $1 per year for every $100 in their account, depending upon their investments. While different 401(k) plans charge different fees, some plans have far lower employee fees. Fees are a big consideration because they can seriously erode employee savings over time. 5. Why should I consider a 401(k) plan instead of OregonSaves? For many employers —even very small businesses—a 401(k) plan may be a more attractive option for a variety of reasons. As an employer, you have greater flexibility and control over your plan service provider, investments, and features so you can tailor the plan that best meets your company’s needs and objectives. Plus, you can benefit from: Tax credits—Thanks to the SECURE Act, you can now receive up to $15,000 in tax credits to help defray the start-up costs of your 401(k) plan over three years. Plus, if you add an eligible automatic enrollment feature, you could earn an additional $1,500 in tax credits over three years. It’s important to note that the proposed SECURE Act 2.0 may offer even more tax credits. Tax deductions—If you pay for plan expenses like administrative fees, you may be able to claim them as a business tax deduction. With a 401(k) plan, your employees may also have greater: Choice—You can give employees, regardless of income, the choice of reducing their taxable income now by making pre-tax contributions or making after-tax contributions (or both!) Not only that, but employees can contribute to a 401(k) plan and an IRA if they wish—giving them even more opportunity to save for the future they envision. Saving power—Thanks to the higher contribution limits of a 401(k) plan, employees can save thousands of dollars more—potentially setting them up for a more secure future. Plus, if the 401(k) plan fees are lower than what an individual might have to pay with OregonSaves, that means more employee savings are available for account growth. Investment freedom—Employees may be able to access more investment options and the guidance they need to invest with confidence. Case in point: Betterment offers expert-built, globally diversified portfolios (including those focused on making a positive impact on the climate and society). Support—401(k) providers often provide a greater degree of support, such as educational resources on a wide range of topics. For example, Betterment offers personalized, “always-on” advice to help your employees reach their retirement goals and pursue overall financial wellness. Plus, we provide an integrated view of your employees’ outside assets so they can see their full financial picture—and track their progress toward all their savings goals. 6. What action should I take now? If you decide that OregonSaves is most appropriate for your company, visit the website to register. If you decide to explore your retirement plan alternatives, talk to Betterment. We can help you get your plan up and running —and aim to simplify ongoing plan administration. Plus, our fees are at one of the lowest costs in the industry. That can mean more value for your company—and more savings for your employees. Get started now. Betterment is not a tax advisor, and the information contained in this article is for informational purposes only.
Launched in 2017, OregonSaves was the first state-based retirement savings program in the country and has since surpassed managing $100 million in assets. Employers with 5 or more employees are already required to offer a plan; for employers with 4 employees or fewer, the deadline is March 1, 2023. If you’re wondering whether OregonSaves is the best choice for your employees, read on for answers to frequently asked questions.
1. Do I have to offer my employees OregonSaves?
No. Oregon laws require businesses to offer retirement benefits, but you don’t have to elect OregonSaves. If you provide a 401(k) plan (or another type of employer-sponsored retirement program), you may request an exemption.
2. What is OregonSaves?
OregonSaves is a Payroll Deduction IRA program—also known as an “Auto IRA” plan. Under an Auto IRA plan, you must automatically enroll your employees into the program. Specifically, the Oregon plan requires employers to automatically enroll employees at a 5% deferral rate with automatic, annual 1% increases until their savings rate reaches 10%. All contributions are invested into a Roth IRA.
As an eligible employer, you must facilitate the program, set up the payroll deduction process, and send the contributions to OregonSaves. The first $1,000 of an employee’s contributions will be invested in the OregonSaves Capital Preservation Fund, and savings over $1,000 will be invested in an OregonSaves Target Retirement Fund based on age. Employees retain control over their Roth IRA and can customize their account by selecting their own contribution rate and investments—or by opting out altogether. (They can also opt out of the annual increases.)
3. Why should I consider OregonSaves?
OregonSaves is a simple, straightforward way to help your employees save for retirement. Brought to you by Oregon State Treasury, the program is overseen by the Oregon Retirement Savings Board and administered by a program service provider. As an employer, your role is limited and there are no fees to provide OregonSaves to your employees.
4. Are there any downsides to OregonSaves?
Yes, there are factors that may may make OregonSaves less appealing than other retirement plans. Here are some important considerations:
- OregonSaves is a Roth IRA, which means it has income limits—If your employees earn above a certain threshold, they will not be able to participate in OregonSaves. For example, single filers with modified adjusted 2022 gross incomes of more than $144,000 would not be eligible to contribute. However, 401(k) plans aren’t subject to the same income restrictions.
- OregonSaves is not subject to worker protections under ERISA—Other tax-qualified retirement savings plans—such as 401(k) plans—are subject to ERISA, a federal law that requires fiduciary oversight of retirement plans.
- Employees don’t receive a tax benefit for their savings in the year they make contributions—Unlike a 401(k) plan—which allows both before-tax and after-tax contributions—OregonSaves only allows after-tax (Roth) contributions. Investment earnings within a Roth IRA are tax-deferred until withdrawn and may eventually be tax-free.
- Contribution limits are far lower—IRA contribution limits are lower than 401(k) limits. The maximum may increase annually, based on cost-of-living adjustments (COLA), but not always. (The maximum contribution limits for IRAs stayed stagnant from 2019 through 2021 and increased slightly in 2022.) So even if employees max out their contribution to OregonSaves, they may still fall short of the amount of money they’ll likely need to achieve a financially secure retirement.
- No employer matching and/or profit sharing contributions—Employer contributions are a major incentive for employees to save for their future. 401(k) plans allow you the flexibility of offering employer contributions; however, OregonSaves does not.
- Limited investment options—OregonSaves offers a relatively limited selection of investments, which may not be appropriate for all investors. Typical 401(k) plans offer a much broader range of investment options and often additional resources such as managed accounts and personalized advice.
- Potentially higher fees for employees—There is no cost to employers to offer OregonSaves; however, employees do pay approximately $1 per year for every $100 in their account, depending upon their investments. While different 401(k) plans charge different fees, some plans have far lower employee fees. Fees are a big consideration because they can seriously erode employee savings over time.
5. Why should I consider a 401(k) plan instead of OregonSaves?
For many employers —even very small businesses—a 401(k) plan may be a more attractive option for a variety of reasons. As an employer, you have greater flexibility and control over your plan service provider, investments, and features so you can tailor the plan that best meets your company’s needs and objectives. Plus, you can benefit from:
- Tax credits—Thanks to the SECURE Act, you can now receive up to $15,000 in tax credits to help defray the start-up costs of your 401(k) plan over three years. Plus, if you add an eligible automatic enrollment feature, you could earn an additional $1,500 in tax credits over three years. It’s important to note that the proposed SECURE Act 2.0 may offer even more tax credits.
- Tax deductions—If you pay for plan expenses like administrative fees, you may be able to claim them as a business tax deduction.
With a 401(k) plan, your employees may also have greater:
- Choice—You can give employees, regardless of income, the choice of reducing their taxable income now by making pre-tax contributions or making after-tax contributions (or both!) Not only that, but employees can contribute to a 401(k) plan and an IRA if they wish—giving them even more opportunity to save for the future they envision.
- Saving power—Thanks to the higher contribution limits of a 401(k) plan, employees can save thousands of dollars more—potentially setting them up for a more secure future. Plus, if the 401(k) plan fees are lower than what an individual might have to pay with OregonSaves, that means more employee savings are available for account growth.
- Investment freedom—Employees may be able to access more investment options and the guidance they need to invest with confidence. Case in point: Betterment offers expert-built, globally diversified portfolios (including those focused on making a positive impact on the climate and society).
- Support—401(k) providers often provide a greater degree of support, such as educational resources on a wide range of topics. For example, Betterment offers personalized, “always-on” advice to help your employees reach their retirement goals and pursue overall financial wellness. Plus, we provide an integrated view of your employees’ outside assets so they can see their full financial picture—and track their progress toward all their savings goals.
6. What action should I take now?
If you decide that OregonSaves is most appropriate for your company, visit the website to register.
If you decide to explore your retirement plan alternatives, talk to Betterment. We can help you get your plan up and running —and aim to simplify ongoing plan administration. Plus, our fees are at one of the lowest costs in the industry. That can mean more value for your company—and more savings for your employees. Get started now.
Betterment is not a tax advisor, and the information contained in this article is for informational purposes only.