A competitive retirement plan is one of the strongest levers you have to attract talent and reward loyalty — with real tax advantages for you and your employees. We help Washington businesses pick the right plan, match the right provider, and design it to fit.
Independent broker · Vetted providers & fiduciary advisors · Plan design & year-round support
A competitive 401(k) retirement plan is no longer just a nice-to-have — candidates increasingly weigh total compensation, and a solid plan with an employer match can be the deciding factor. Beyond recruiting, retirement benefits reward tenure and build loyalty, helping reduce costly turnover. As an independent broker, First Underwriters helps Washington businesses navigate the options — from Traditional and Safe Harbor 401(k) plans to SIMPLE IRAs, SEP IRAs, and Solo 401(k)s — and connects you with vetted recordkeepers, third-party administrators, and fiduciary advisors who make setup straightforward.
Tell us your size, your goal, and what matters to you. We'll point to the plan type that fits best — and the features worth building in.
Choose what fits best — the recommendation updates as you go.
Educational guidance only — not investment, tax, or legal advice. Your best plan depends on your goals, budget, and workforce; we'll confirm it with you and a fiduciary advisor.
A match is the single biggest driver of participation — and it's fully tax-deductible. Move the sliders to estimate the annual cost of matching your team.
Illustrative only — actual cost depends on who participates and how much they defer.
Employer contributions are 100% tax-deductible — at a 21% rate, this ~$29,250 match nets out closer to $23,108.
Each plan trades contribution limits, employer cost, and administrative work differently. Click through to see how they compare (2026 IRS limits shown).
These are the dials we help you set when designing a plan that fits your goals and budget.
Common structures include dollar-for-dollar up to 3% of pay, or 50 cents on the dollar up to 6%. A match is the strongest driver of participation and retention — and it's fully tax-deductible. Use the estimator above to model the cost.
Vesting determines when employer contributions become the employee's to keep. Graded vesting over 3–6 years rewards tenure and helps reduce turnover, while Safe Harbor contributions vest immediately by rule. Employee deferrals are always 100% theirs.
Automatically enrolling eligible employees at a default contribution rate dramatically increases participation. Under SECURE 2.0, many newer 401(k) plans are required to include automatic enrollment — we'll confirm whether your plan needs it and how to set the default rate.
Target-date funds simplify decisions for most participants, while a diversified fund menu lets experienced investors customize. Your fiduciary advisor selects and monitors the lineup and keeps fees reasonable — a core part of your fiduciary duty.
A Roth 401(k) lets employees contribute after-tax dollars that then grow tax-free, which appeals to younger workers and anyone expecting higher future tax rates. Offering both pre-tax and Roth gives your team flexibility at no extra cost to you.
Allowing participants to borrow from their 401(k) for emergencies adds flexibility and can ease anxiety about locking money away — which improves participation. It's an optional feature you can turn on or off in the plan design.
We help you choose the right plan type for your size, goals, and budget.
We connect you with vetted recordkeepers, TPAs, and fiduciary advisors.
We help structure matching formulas, vesting schedules, and eligibility rules.
Questions, plan reviews, and coordination with your advisors — all year.
As a plan sponsor you have a fiduciary duty to act in your employees' best interests: selecting and monitoring investments, keeping fees reasonable, and following plan documents. We help you understand these obligations and connect you with fiduciary advisors who can share or assume them — reducing your risk and workload.
We've helped Washington businesses navigate employee benefits, including retirement plans, since 1992. We're an insurance broker — not investment advisors ourselves — so we connect you with trusted fiduciary partners and help make sure your plan is set up right from the start.
We connect you with reputable recordkeepers, third-party administrators, and advisory firms.
There's no minimum. Even a solo business owner can establish a Solo 401(k). For traditional group 401(k) plans, modern providers make plans cost-effective for businesses with just a handful of employees, and SIMPLE and SEP IRAs are designed specifically for small teams.
Costs typically include a setup fee, annual administration, per-participant fees, and investment expenses. Simple 401(k) plans often start around $500 per year plus a small monthly per-employee fee — and small employers may offset much of that with SECURE Act startup tax credits. We gather competitive quotes so you can compare total cost.
Not for a traditional 401(k) — matching is optional, though strongly encouraged because it drives participation and retention. Safe Harbor 401(k) plans require a set employer contribution in exchange for skipping annual nondiscrimination testing, and SIMPLE IRAs require either a match up to 3% or a 2% non-elective contribution.
For 2026, employees can defer up to $24,500 into a 401(k), plus an $8,000 catch-up at age 50 or older (a higher catch-up applies at ages 60–63). SIMPLE IRA employee contributions are limited to $17,000 for 2026, plus a $4,000 catch-up. These IRS limits are adjusted periodically for inflation.
Simple plans can be established in about 2–4 weeks; more complex plans with custom features may take 6–8 weeks. New plans can generally be started at any time during the year, though Safe Harbor plans have specific timing rules we'll help you meet. Request a consultation →
From Solo 401(k) to Safe Harbor, we match the plan type to your size, goals, and budget — and connect you to the provider that fits.
We connect you with 3(16), 3(21), and 3(38) fiduciary partners and help keep fees reasonable and your plan compliant.
Plan reviews, employee questions, and coordination with your advisors — we stay engaged well past setup.
Let's explore your options and connect you with the right provider. We'll help you compare plan types, design the match and vesting, and get it set up right.
Prefer email? Reach us at info@firstunderwriters.com · No obligation
First Underwriters Insurance Brokers is a licensed insurance broker and is not a registered investment adviser, tax advisor, or law firm; nothing here is investment, tax, or legal advice. We help employers select retirement plan structures and connect them with vetted recordkeepers, third-party administrators, and fiduciary advisors. Contribution limits and tax figures reflect 2026 IRS amounts and are subject to change; plan availability, eligibility, fees, and terms vary by provider. Premium, cost, and tax figures shown are illustrative estimates only. First Underwriters Insurance Brokers · Kirkland, WA · (425) 242-5357.
