401(k) Plans for Dental Practices | Virtus Financial Partners

Why Dental Practices Choose a Dedicated 401(k) Advisor

Three Ways We Create Measurable Value for Dental Practice Retirement Plans

Tax Savings Through Plan Design

Employee and employer contributions (including match and profit sharing) help reduce your tax bill as a practice owner
A practice owner in the top tax bracket contributing $70,000 between employee and employer contributions could reduce their federal tax liability by over $25,000
The right plan design could generate tax savings that exceed the cost of running your plan

Your Dedicated Team at Virtus

Direct access to your advisor and team, instead of a chatbot, call center, or ticket queue in your financial plan
Hands on by design, so your advisor knows your practice and your CSA knows you by name
A team that works only with dental practices, so the patterns in your plan and the nuances of your business are already familiar

Fiduciary Investment Management

3(38) or 3(21) fiduciary coverage on your plan's investments, based on what fits your practice
3(38): the fiduciary assumes legal liability for investment decisions, removing that responsibility from the practice owner
3(21): investment recommendations while you retain final decision-making authority

Dental Practice 401(k) Results That Speak for Themselves

We work with dental practices who want more than just a retirement plan

100+

Dental Practice Retirement Plans Managed

$150M+

Firm Wide Assets Under Management

42+

States Served Nationwide

1-2 Weeks

Plan Audit or Startup Consultation

We analyze your current plan's fees, investments, plan design, and tax optimization opportunities

~3 Months

Transfer & Implementation

We lead the transition from your current provider or build your new plan from scratch, including recordkeeper setup, investment selection, and payroll integration

Post-Implementation

Ongoing Plan Management

Quarterly investment monitoring, optimal contribution analysis (profit sharing), and client support

Request a Plan Review

The Dental Practice Retirement Plan as Your Financial Foundation

Your practice 401(k) is more than a retirement plan, it's the entry point to a complete personal financial strategy. We earn the right to manage your full financial life by delivering measurable results first.

STEP 01

Plan Design

Tax-optimized 401(k) with safe harbor and profit sharing options

STEP 02

Self-Directed Brokerage (SDBA)

The SDBA allows you to invest in securities outside of your plan lineup. This gives you one unified asset allocation approach in your portfolio

STEP 03

Comprehensive Planning

Your personal financial plan around your goals, investments, insurances, tax and estate planning

STEP 04

Unified Approach

Your 401(k), financial plan, and outside parties (CPA, Attorney, etc.) are all working in sync and coordinated by your Virtus Advisor

Dental Practice 401(k) Questions We Hear Every Week

Quick answers to the questions dental practice owners ask most about retirement plans, fees, and fiduciary responsibility.

How much does a 401(k) plan actually cost for a dental practice?

All-in costs for an unbundled plan include recordkeeper fees, investment expense ratios, TPA compliance fees, and advisory fees. Here's how it can look:

Advisory fee (our fee schedule) - 0.75% under $1M AUM, 0.50% for $1M-$3M, and negotiable above $3M.
Recordkeeper - Can be an asset based fee or flat fee with no revenue sharing. Flat fee costs can range from $1500-$2100 depending if unbundled or bundled.
Investments - Commonly 0.05%-0.20% for index funds, with actively managed funds higher.
TPA - Roughly $2,000-$3,000/year depending on plan complexity.

It helps to separate who pays what. The practice pays the recordkeeper and TPA fees, which are deductible business expenses, and for a typical dental practice (8 employees, $500k AUM) those run roughly $3,500-$5,100/year based on the ranges above. The advisory fee, fund expense ratios, and any per-participant fees are asset-based and come out of participant balances. In a well-designed plan, the tax savings from proper plan design typically outweigh the plan's total costs, which is the number that matters most. Results vary by plan.

Why do the fees of a 401(k) plan matter less than you think?

When the tax savings from proper plan design offset or exceed the plan's total fees, the net economic impact of running the plan can be highly favorable.

For example, a single-doctor practice with an owner W-2 of $360,000, a spouse on payroll at $35,000, and 8 eligible staff averaging $50,000 could deduct about $116,550 in combined contributions for the owner and the team in a single year.

After covering the staff contributions and the plan's out-of-pocket admin costs, a plan designed like this nets the practice roughly $19,300 in tax savings at a 37% marginal rate.

The question worth asking is how much the plan saves you in taxes, not just what it costs to run.

Results vary based on income, plan design, and tax situation. Consult your tax advisor.

Hypothetical illustration for educational purposes only. This example does not reflect any actual client, and the figures are not actual results or a guarantee. It assumes a 37% marginal tax rate and the specific contributions shown. Your results will differ.

What is a 3(38) fiduciary, and why does my dental practice need one?

A 3(38) fiduciary is an investment manager who has the legal authority and responsibility to select, monitor, and replace investments in your retirement plan.

Under ERISA Section 3(38), this fiduciary is personally liable for prudent investment management, a higher standard than a suitability advisor.

For dental practice owners, this means you transfer the legal risk of investment decisions to your advisor.

Can I control my own investments inside my dental practice 401(k)?

Yes, through a self-directed brokerage account (SDBA).

An SDBA allows the practice owner to invest in individual stocks, ETFs, bonds, and other securities through Schwab's Personal Choice Retirement Account (PCRA), while employees stay in a professionally managed fund menu.

This gives owners investment flexibility with the same tax advantages as a standard 401(k) contribution.

Are you getting the tax deductions you should for your plan expenses?

Many dental practice owners do not realize that plan expenses and employer contributions to a 401(k), including profit-sharing contributions, are tax-deductible business expenses.

If your plan is not designed to maximize profit-sharing allocations for the owner, you may be missing significant deductions.

A properly structured plan can turn your retirement contributions into one of your largest annual tax deductions.

Your Dental Practice Deserves a Better 401(k)

Why Dental Practices Choose a Dedicated 401(k) Advisor

Tax Savings Through Plan Design

Your Dedicated Team at Virtus

Fiduciary Investment Management

Dental Practice 401(k) Results That Speak for Themselves

How We Set Up and Manage Your Dental Practice 401(k)

Plan Audit or Startup Consultation

Transfer & Implementation

Ongoing Plan Management

The Dental Practice Retirement Plan as Your Financial Foundation

Plan Design

Self-Directed Brokerage (SDBA)

Comprehensive Planning

Unified Approach

Dental Practice 401(k) Questions We Hear Every Week

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Request a Plan Review

Download Our Complimentary 401(k) Guide

Your Dental Practice Deserves a Better 401(k)

Why Dental Practices Choose a Dedicated 401(k) Advisor

Tax Savings Through Plan Design

Your Dedicated Team at Virtus

Fiduciary Investment Management

Dental Practice 401(k) Results That Speak for Themselves

How We Set Up and Manage Your Dental Practice 401(k)

Plan Audit or Startup Consultation

Transfer & Implementation

Ongoing Plan Management

The Dental Practice Retirement Plan as Your Financial Foundation

Plan Design

Self-Directed Brokerage (SDBA)

Comprehensive Planning

Unified Approach

Dental Practice 401(k) Questions We Hear Every Week

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Request a Plan Review

Download Our Complimentary 401(k) Guide

Dental Practice Owner's 401(k) Guide

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