Pension advice

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Your pension plan, well organized.

Let’s be honest—pension matters can be a bit dull. For you or your employees, pensions might seem like a distant issue, something you don’t really want to think about until absolutely necessary. Pensions become relevant later in life, but by then, what can you still do about it?

Raising awareness about pensions is the mission of Herman Smit, Pension & Income Advisor at CROP. Herman is happy to help you and your employees make the right decisions, so you don’t end up facing unpleasant surprises.

“A while ago, I had a client nearing retirement age. To his dismay, he discovered that his pension would only cover about one-third of his current income, leaving him with a significant deficit.”

“To close that pension gap, he would have needed to save around €20,000 per year! That amount wasn’t feasible for him. Another option was to work part-time after retirement, which took away his freedom. These are the kinds of conversations you’d rather avoid.”

I want to understand Pensions

Pension is perhaps the most important (and costly) part of secondary employment benefits. In some cases, you are even legally required to offer a pension to your employees. Are you facing pension issues for the first time as an employer? Don’t worry, you are not alone.

However, pensions can seem like a complex topic. Do you know what happens if it turns out you are subject to a mandatory pension plan? Should you offer a salary where the employee manages their own pension, or a pension plan? Do you know how your own pension is set up as a director or owner?

In practice, pensions aren’t that complicated. A cost-free introductory meeting with Herman can help you start your journey.

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I want to understand Pensions

In practice, pensions aren’t that complicated. An introductory meeting with Herman can help you start your journey.

Do I need to adjust my pension plan?

Does your company fall under the Dutch free-choice pension plan? If so, you probably have a significant project ahead. You have until January 1, 2028, to adjust your pension plan. After that, everything must be arranged.

Setting up or adjusting a pension plan is a big task. It requires a lot of research and coordination. It’s not something you can handle on the side, but it’s definitely important.

Client: “Recently, I lost an employee to a competitor because they were able to offer a pension plan, while I could not. That really made me stop and think.”

We are happy to take the process of creating or modifying a pension plan off your hands. It usually starts with a consultation.

Tip: Bedrijfstakpensioenfonds-check

Vallen de activiteiten van jouw bedrijf/onderneming nog wel onder de vrije keuze pensioenregeling? Misschien zijn je bedrijfsactiviteiten veranderd, waardoor je onder een CAO met pensioenverplichting komt te vallen. Bedrijfstakpensioenfondsen zoeken actief naar bedrijven om bij hen aan te sluiten.

Dit begint vaak met een onschuldig ogende brief op de deurmat, maar het kan eindigen in een verplichte aansluiting bij een bedrijfstakpensioenfonds en torenhoge kosten.

We voeren graag een korte bedrijfstakpensioen-check uit. Aan de hand van deze check kunnen we nagaan of je bedrijfsactiviteiten mogelijk onder een verplichtstelling vallen. We raden aan om dit elke vijf jaar even te pijlen. Heb je zo’n brief ontvangen? Wij helpen je er graag bij.

Over Herman

Herman is a seasoned specialist in the pension field. Not only can he explain even the most difficult pension issues clearly, but after Herman walks you through his world, you might even start to enjoy pension planning yourself!

Contact Herman

Benefits of a pension plan

Building up a pension pot for when your employee retires
Financial security for the partner and children if an employee passes away
Financial support and continued pension accrual in case of disability

“I love pointing out the possibilities to employers and employees. I don’t mind how you arrange your pension, but I do care that you do it consciously. That’s my mission. I want to help both the employer and the employee.”

How do we work?

Grab a Coffee

We are happy to schedule an introductory meeting with you. We can schedule an introductory meeting at our office or yours. We’d love to hear your views on pensions and what you aim to achieve. And, of course, this is free of charge.

Assess the Situation

Using data like your employee details, we develop broad scenarios for a (modified) pension plan and calculate them. One scenario is based on what the government sees as a good pension, another based on your budget, and one focused on good employer practices. After your choice, we can start narrowing it down.

Advice

Based on the proposed plan’s framework, we look for a pension provider that fits best. Then it’s up to you to decide whether to proceed (or not).

Implementation

If you choose to implement the advice—great! We ensure the administration is set up properly and manage the project planning and communication with the provider. We can also introduce the new plan to your employees. This way, you can focus on other matters, knowing it’s all taken care of.

Aftercare

After completion, we like to stay in touch. We assist with plan management, and you can appoint us as a point of contact for pension-related questions. We aim for long-term relationships.

Verder lezen

Arbeidsvoorwaarden
Naast pensioen zijn er andere arbeidsvoorwaarden om aan te bieden. Wil je een check om te kijken of je nog competitief bent op de huidige arbeidsmarkt? Vraag dan HR advies aan.

Family services
Nader je als ondernemer de pensioenleeftijd? Het is belangrijk tijdig na te denken over zaken als vermogensoverdracht naar je naasten, of misschien het opzetten van een eigen stichting. Family Services wijst je daarbij de juiste weg.