March 21, 2023
High net worth individuals know the importance of staying on top of changes in tax laws and regulations. With the changes to the Secure Act making headlines, it’s important to understand how this change will impact you.
One of the most exciting provisions is the encouragement for employers to offer student loan repayment benefits. This provision is particularly interesting for young professionals with large amounts of student loan debt, such as doctors, lawyers, and dentists.

For decades, student loan debt has been a significant financial burden for many Americans, and the Secure Act 2.0 aims to address this problem by incentivizing employers to offer student loan repayment benefits. Under the changes to the law, employers who offer a match on their employees’ student loan payments would receive the same tax benefits as they do for matching contributions to retirement plans like 401(k)s. This means that employers can lower their tax burden while also helping their employees pay off their student loan debt even faster.

But the benefits of offering student loan repayment benefits don’t stop there. By helping employees pay off their student loans, employers can attract and retain high-quality talent, especially those with significant student loan debt. This is particularly important for industries that require advanced degrees.
Businesses can also improve their employees’ overall financial well-being by offering student loan repayment benefits. Studies have shown that when employees are financially secure, they are more likely to be productive and engaged in their work. This leads to improved job satisfaction, lower turnover rates and higher profits for the business.
Offering student loan repayment benefits is clearly a competitive advantage for employers. As the job market becomes more competitive, employers need to offer attractive benefits packages to attract and retain top talent. By understanding these nuances in tax law employers can set themselves apart from their competitors and position themselves as an employer of choice.

I believe that changing the conversation about high student loan debt is crucial. Instead of focusing solely on retirement plans like 401(k)s, employers should also consider offering student loan repayment benefits. By doing so, they can help their employees achieve financial security and improve their overall financial well-being.
In summary, the changes to the Secure Act 2.0 are a significant development for high net worth individuals who are looking to reduce their tax burden while also investing in their employees’ financial well-being.
By offering student loan repayment benefits, employers can attract and retain high-quality talent while also helping their employees achieve financial security.
I encourage my clients to explore all the options available to them to reduce their tax burden and improve their overall financial well-being.

To learn more about how the Secure Act 2.0 and other changes in tax laws and regulations can impact your financial well-being, consider tax workshops and consultations with a Certified Financial Planner. They can provide you with personalized guidance and advice on how to navigate the complex world of finance and taxes.
Seth Rosenberg, CFP®, CLU ®, LUTCF, GFS®
CEO
Ability First Financial, LLC
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board) owns the CFP® certification mark, the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification mark, and the CFP® certification mark (with plaque design) logo in the United States, which it authorizes the use of by individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements. The CLU® is the property of The American College, which reserves sole rights to its use and is used by permission. This is not an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation of any security or any other product or service offered by Ability First Financial, LLC and/or any affiliated or associated entity.