Services / Retirement Tax Planning
Retirement Tax PlanningShelter More Than the 401(k) Lets You
Maxing out your 401(k) is a starting point, not a strategy. For high earners, the standard workplace plan often shelters only a fraction of what the tax code actually allows. We build retirement structures that let you set aside significantly more, before tax.
The right plan does two jobs at once: it funds the future and lowers today’s tax bill. Most high earners are only using half of what is available to them.
Beyond the 401(k)
Strategies that go well past the standard workplace contribution limit
Pre-tax
Contributions that reduce taxable income in the year you make them
Entity-paired
Retirement plans structured to work with your business
Long-horizon
Built to compound for decades, not optimized for a single year
Why the 401(k) Is Not Enough for High Earners
The standard 401(k) was designed for the average worker, and its contribution limits reflect that. For a high-income professional or business owner, maxing it out barely moves the needle on either retirement funding or current-year taxes. The gap between what you save and what you could shelter is often substantial.
The tax code allows for far more, but the vehicles that unlock it, defined benefit plans, cash balance plans, profit-sharing structures, and advanced Roth strategies, require deliberate setup and coordination with your entity. Few standard advisors bring them up. We build the structure around your income, your business, and your timeline so more of your money works for the future instead of going to taxes today.
Most high earners are only using half of what the tax code allows for retirement.
Services
How We Expand What You Can Shelter
Defined Benefit & Cash Balance Plans
For business owners with strong, stable income, these plans can allow contributions well beyond a 401(k). We assess whether your profile supports one and coordinate it with your entity.
Profit-Sharing & Solo 401(k) Design
The right plan design lets owners contribute both as employee and employer, meaningfully raising the ceiling. We structure the plan to match how your business actually pays you.
Backdoor & Mega-Backdoor Roth
High earners are often phased out of direct Roth contributions. There are established, legal paths to Roth savings anyway, and we help you use them correctly so growth can compound tax-free.
Coordination With Your Entity
Retirement plans and business structure are deeply connected. When we already manage your entity strategy, we design the retirement plan to fit it, not bolt it on afterward.
Balancing Today’s Deduction and Tomorrow’s Tax
Pre-tax contributions lower this year’s bill; Roth dollars grow tax-free for later. We help you weigh the two based on your income trajectory rather than defaulting to one.
Who Benefits Most
Advanced retirement planning tends to deliver the most for:
Business owners with consistent profit
Especially strong candidates for defined benefit and cash balance plans
High-income professionals
Physicians, attorneys, executives, and others phased out of standard options
Self-employed high earners
Solo 401(k) and profit-sharing design can dramatically raise the ceiling
Anyone already maxing a 401(k)
If you have hit the standard limit, there is likely more room available
Owners nearing retirement
Later-career owners can often front-load large, deductible contributions
The right structure depends on your income, your entity, and your timeline. A short conversation lets us tell you which vehicles actually fit.
Process
How We Build Your Retirement Strategy
Assess Your Profile
We review your income, entity structure, age, and goals to understand how much room the tax code actually gives you.
Model the Options
We compare the plan types that fit, weighing current-year deductions against long-term tax-free growth for your situation.
Design the Plan
We structure the chosen plan and coordinate it with your business so the contributions and deductions line up correctly.
Implement & Fund
We put the plan in place and guide the funding so it is done properly and on time.
Review Annually
Income changes, and so should the plan. We revisit contributions each year to keep the strategy aligned with your goals.
Meet Jesse Lipscomb
Founder and CEO, Roadmap Tax Services
Enrolled Agent | Series 65 Financial Advisor
Most tax firms file your return and disappear. Jesse built Roadmap Tax to do the opposite. With dual expertise in tax strategy and financial advisory, Jesse works with high-income earners and business owners year-round to find savings their previous CPA never looked for. His clients do not wonder if they are overpaying. They know exactly where their money is going, what strategies are working, and what is coming next. That is what happens when your tax professional actually knows you.
The Team
Your tax advisors
A dedicated team of Enrolled Agents working with you year-round.
Sandy Kisner, EA
Tax Strategist
Sandy focuses on helping entrepreneurs and high-earning professionals reduce their tax burden and build long-term wealth. She works with small business owners, real estate professionals, physicians, investors, and brokers, delivering proactive tax planning tailored to each client. Clients rely on Sandy for clear guidance, creative problem-solving, and practical solutions that turn complex tax laws into real financial opportunities.
Alex Lazo, EA
Tax Strategist
Alex brings nearly five years of experience helping clients take control of their tax outcomes. A Point Loma Nazarene University accounting graduate, he specializes in proactive tax planning for real estate investors and self-employed business owners. Originally from San Diego, Alex is known for making complex tax concepts accessible and actionable, helping clients use the tax code as a tool for building wealth.
Questions?
Retirement Tax Planning FAQ
I already max out my 401(k). Is there really more I can do?
Almost always, yes. The 401(k) limit is just the entry point. Depending on your income and business structure, vehicles like defined benefit plans, cash balance plans, profit-sharing, and mega-backdoor Roth strategies can let you shelter considerably more. The right combination depends on your specifics, which is exactly what a planning conversation sorts out.
What is a defined benefit or cash balance plan, and who is it for?
These are employer-sponsored retirement plans that can permit much larger contributions than a 401(k), particularly for business owners with strong, steady income who want to save aggressively. They involve more setup and ongoing administration, so they are best suited to owners whose profile supports the commitment. We help you determine whether one fits.
I earn too much to contribute to a Roth. Are my options closed?
No. Being phased out of direct Roth contributions does not close the door. Established strategies such as the backdoor Roth and, for some plans, the mega-backdoor Roth allow high earners to build Roth savings. These need to be executed carefully to stay compliant, which is where working with a professional matters.
Should I prioritize pre-tax contributions or Roth?
It depends on your current tax bracket versus where you expect to be later, and on your overall plan. Pre-tax contributions lower today’s bill, while Roth dollars grow tax-free for the future. Rather than defaulting to one, we model both against your income trajectory and help you strike the right balance.
How does retirement planning connect to my business structure?
Closely. The type of retirement plan you can use, and how much you can contribute, is tied to how your business is structured and how it pays you. When retirement and entity strategy are designed together, the two reinforce each other. That coordination is a core part of how we work.
Find Out How Much More You Could Shelter
If you are maxing your 401(k) and stopping there, you are likely leaving significant tax-advantaged room unused. Let’s find out how much.