Mar 29, 2021
It's time to review your clients' non-qualified plan strategies.
Newport anticipates significant changes in 2021 impacting compensation and retirement benefits for a company’s most valued employees – and change brings with it new opportunities. Personal and corporate tax rates may increase; the economy is predicted to continue to grow due to the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan; and recent legislation promoted a new generation of COLI products.
All of these changes present new opportunities for companies to revitalize their non-qualified programs to attract, reward and retain their best employees while reducing the income statement impact utilizing COLI.
Non-qualified retirement plans are an important element of compensation and benefits strategies to attract and retain key talent, particularly with the flexible working environment created by COVID.
These plans are designed to provide top talent with the ability to supplement retirement savings in a tax-efficient manner.
- Pre-tax compensation deferrals provide a larger investment balance base and more rapid compounding of earnings compared to after-tax savings.
- Tax-advantaged savings are essential in a year where the vaccine and $1.9T stimulus are likely to further fuel the economy and the stock market.
- The ability to save on a tax-advantaged basis becomes even more advantageous if personal tax rates increase as expected.
- The Biden tax plan raises marginal income tax rates on taxable earnings above $400,000
- The tax plan would also tax capital gains at ordinary rates for those earning more than $1 million
- Some states, including California, New York and Illinois, have introduced or are considering introducing legislation to raise their income tax rates. Recent legislation signed into law (Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021) created a new generation of more efficient COLI products that enhance a company’s ability to finance its non-qualified plan liabilities.
- Corporate tax rates may also increase in the near future which further enhances COLI’s tax efficiency relative to other financing strategies
Now is the time to review your clients’ non-qualified plans and the financing of those plans. You may also have bank or insurance company clients whose BOLI or ICOLI portfolios need to be reviewed in light of the new, more efficient insurance products available.
Newport is here to help you, your clients and their key employees with any of these opportunities – which will also help you grow your practice. For further information, please contact Clay Kennedy, clay.kennedy@newportgroup.com
Newport strives to provide information that is accurate as of the date of publication. However, we cannot guarantee that the information contained herein is accurate as of the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future.
This material has been prepared for informational purposes only. It is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, tax, legal or accounting advice. Consult your own tax, legal and accounting advisors before making any decisions. Newport and its affiliates do not provide tax, legal or accounting advice.
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