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Mutual funds come in a wide variety of styles to meet the varying needs of investors.
Mutual funds come in a wide variety of styles to meet the varying needs of investors.
04/29/2025
RETIREMENT PLANNING
You can set up a SEP account for yourself and for employees if you have some.
Contributions are a deductible business expense, investments can grow tax-deferred and withdrawals may be taxed at ordinary tax rates.
When self-employed, you may be considering the value of your business being enough to achieve your retirement-savings goals. However, you also have access to retirement plans that may provide you with tax benefits and a second way to help save for retirement.
Simplified employee pension (SEP) individual retirement account (IRA) plans are like other employer retirement plans in that contributions you make as the business owner are considered a deductible business expense. Investments within the plan can grow tax-deferred, and withdrawals in retirement are generally taxed at your ordinary income rate in the year of the withdrawal.
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Tax-deferred SEP IRA retirement plans:
If you take a distribution before age 59½, you would normally be subject to income taxes and a 10% early distribution penalty. The 10% penalty may not be imposed if the following conditions apply:
Although you would not pay a penalty on money withdrawn after 59½ (or if you qualify for an early distribution exception), you would owe taxes on all distribution at your ordinary income rate for the current tax year.
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Establishing a SEP for your business starts with maintaining a plan document. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) provides a prototype document called the 5305-SEP, Simplified Employee Pension plan document. That is a matter that you may choose to handle through your tax advisor or on your own. (For more details, see IRS article: How do I establish a SEP?)
Once your business has established the SEP plan, you will be able to open a SEP IRA with a qualified financial institution to receive your contributions and provide investment choices, such as mutual funds, in which to invest your funds. If you have any employees, they will also need to open a SEP IRA, and provide you where their contributions need to be sent.
A SEP plan can put you on the road to retirement with tax benefits similar to those of corporate retirement plans. You can open a SEP IRA today through Thrivent Mutual Funds and start saving for your retirement.
The information provided is not intended as a source for tax, legal or accounting advice. Please consult with a legal and/or tax professional for specific information regarding your individual situation.
1 Self Employed owners who file Schedule C are limited to 20% of net earned income
2 For Schedule C filer, it would be net earned income; for Schedule C or Sub S Corporation filer, it would be W-2 income.
3 IRS.gov, Retirement Plans FAQs regarding SEP contributions