Ken is a self$-$employed architect in a small firm with four employees: himself, his office assistant, and two drafters, all of whom have worked for Ken full$-$time for the last four years. The office assistant earns $$36,000$ per year and each drafter earns $$52,000.$ Ken$$s net earnings from self$-$employment $($after deducting all expenses and one$-$half of self$-$employment taxes$)$ are $$362,000.$ Ken is considering whether to establish a SIMPLE plan and has a few questions.

Required:

a$)$Is he eligible to establish a SIMPLE plan?

b$)$Is he required to cover his employees under the plan?

c$)$If his employees must be covered, what is the maximum amount that can be contributed on their behalf?

d$)$If the employees are not covered, what is the maximum amount Ken can contribute for himself?

e$)$If Ken is required to contribute for his employees and chooses to contribute the maximum amount, what is the maximum amount Ken can contribute for himself? $($Hint: Calculate the employee amounts first.$)$ Ignore any changes in Ken$$s self$-$employment tax.d$.$ If the employees are not covered, what is the maximum amount Ken can contribute for himself?

$\begin{array}{cc}?& \text{A}\text{m}\text{o}\text{u}\text{n}\text{t}\\ d.\text{M}\text{a}\text{x}\text{i}\text{m}\text{u}\text{m}\text{c}\text{o}\text{n}\text{t}\text{r}\text{i}\text{b}\text{u}\text{t}\text{i}\text{o}\text{n}& ?\\ e.\text{M}\text{a}\text{x}\text{i}\text{m}\text{u}\text{m}\text{c}\text{o}\text{n}\text{t}\text{r}\text{i}\text{b}\text{u}\text{t}\text{i}\text{o}\text{n}& ?\end{array}$