As a real estate professional, your income doesn’t follow a predictable path, and neither should your financial plan.
Between fluctuating commissions, complex deductions, and the absence of employer-sponsored retirement benefits, your financial life is fundamentally different from a W-2 employee’s.
At Mercer Advisors, we specialize in financial planning for real estate agents, especially top producers and luxury professionals. Our advisors help you build a strategy that maximizes deductions, minimizes taxes, and funds your long-term goals, including a real estate agent retirement plan that works with your income, not against it.
Why Real Estate Agents Need Specialized Planning
Real estate agent financial planning requires a different approach than traditional W-2 employees. Here’s why:
- Irregular income and unpredictable cash flow
- Self-employment taxes and quarterly estimated payments
- No employer-sponsored retirement plans like 401(k)s or pensions
- High audit risk for deductions without proper documentation and planning
Whether you’re a solo agent or part of a luxury team, your financial plan needs to reflect the realities of your business.
How Mercer Advisors Helps
With 40 years of experience in integrated wealth management, Mercer Advisors understands the unique needs of real estate professionals. Our team of CFP® professionals, tax specialists, investment managers and estate strategists deliver services for real estate agents that adapt to your income, business structure and long term goals.
- Set Up Retirement Plans: SEP IRA, Solo 401(k), and defined benefit plans
- Choose the Right Entity: S-Corp vs. LLC guidance and setup support
- Plan for Taxes: Quarterly estimates, deduction strategies, and audit risk mitigation
- Manage Cash Flow: Strategies for slow seasons and windfall commissions
- Build Long-Term Wealth: Investment management beyond real estate
Specialized Services for Real Estate Professionals
- Commission Smoothing: Manage irregular income with structured cash flow planning.
- Entity Structuring: Set up LLCs or S-Corps to help reduce taxes and protect assets.
- Self-Employed Retirement Plans: Create and manage SEP IRAs or Solo 401(k)s.
- Quarterly Tax Planning: Estimate and plan for taxes designed to avoid surprises.
- Health & Benefits Guidance: Navigate insurance and benefits as a self-employed individual.
- Investment Diversification: Help reduce overexposure to real estate with balanced portfolios.
- Expense & Deduction Tracking: Help maximize write-offs with smart expense strategies.
- Succession Planning: Plan for business exit or brokerage sale.
Mercer Advisors is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice to clients. All estate planning document preparation and other legal advice is provided through select third parties unaffiliated to Mercer Advisors. Tax preparation and tax filing are a separate fee from our investment management and planning services.
Additional Solutions to Help You Build Wealth Beyond the Deal
Your real estate income may ebb and flow, but your long-term financial plan shouldn’t. We offer personalized strategies to help you manage taxes, protect your assets, and turn strong earnings into lasting wealth—whether you’re in growth mode, preparing for retirement, or managing irregular income cycles.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Avoid these common pitfalls that could cost agents money each year:
- Paying too much in self-employment taxes
- Skipping or underfunding retirement contributions
- Choosing the wrong business structure
- Missing quarterly tax deadlines
A Real Estate Agent’s Wealth Planning Checklist
Key moves to make now:
FAQs
-
It depends on your income and goals. We help you compare SEP IRAs, Solo 401(k)s, and Roth options to build the right real estate agent retirement plan for your needs.
-
Yes, if properly documented. We can help you track and optimize your deductions.
-
Possibly. We’ll evaluate your income, needs, and goals, and walk you through the pros, cons, and setup process.
-
Up to $70,000 in 2025 (or more with catch-up contributions). Learn more about how we can help you make the most of this option: Solo 401(k): A Powerful Retirement Tool for the Self-Employed.
