For decades, business owners have been told a simple story about retirement:
Save diligently in your 401(k), trust the market, and someday, you’ll have enough to retire comfortably.
But here’s the uncomfortable truth — that story was never written for entrepreneurs.
The Problem with Traditional Retirement Advice
The traditional retirement model is built on uncertainty.
Most business owners are saving into a system they don’t control, one built on deferred taxes and unpredictable policy shifts.
A 401(k) doesn’t eliminate taxes — it delays them.
When you finally retire and begin taking withdrawals, you’re not just accessing your savings; you’re entering a new tax bracket.
And if tax rates go up — as history suggests they will — you’ll pay more in taxes than you ever saved in deferrals.
That’s not planning. That’s hoping.
Retirement shouldn’t be about waiting to see what happens with taxes, markets, or government policy. It should be built around what you can control — what you keep, not what you hope for.
The 401(k) Ceiling
If you’re a high-earning business owner, your 401(k) probably feels like a box that’s too small for your ambitions.
Contribution caps and income limits were designed for average employees — not for entrepreneurs earning $200K, $500K, or more.
At $23,500 a year, the ceiling is low, especially when your income — and tax exposure — continues to rise.
So, while your company grows, your retirement strategy stalls. You’re capped by a system that was never intended to serve people at your level of success.
It’s time to recognize that you’ve outgrown the traditional retirement model. The same innovation and control that drives your business should also drive your financial future.
A New Perspective: Control as the Cornerstone
The truth is simple — business owners build their livelihoods on control. You control your vision, your operations, your outcomes. But too many entrepreneurs hand over control when it comes to their retirement planning.
At Encompass Group, we help business owners and high-income earners move beyond outdated systems and take back that control — creating strategies that build certainty, clarity, and freedom.
Because real wealth isn’t about watching numbers rise and fall on a statement — it’s about having the power to decide how and when to use your money, without restriction or penalty.
