Self-sufficiency is the greatest of all wealth.    

(Epicurus) 

Stepping out on your own can be thrilling and terrifying.  As with most things in life, there are pros and cons.  Pro: It’s all up to you.  Con: It’s all up to you.  If you’re a solo entrepreneur whose income consistently surpasses her expenses year over year, then congratulations.  (No small feat!).  Now, if you’re looking for ways to make the most of your savings to build wealth (quickly), then a good place to start is by choosing the right retirement savings account.

Of course, there are the usual suspects Traditional IRA and Roth IRA.  Unfortunately, these accounts have an annual contribution limit of $6,000 (or $7,000 if you’re age 50 and over).  However, fortunately, there are far better alternatives that offer higher annual contribution limits; flexibility in annual contribution; competitive investment options; easy set up and maintenance; good investment options; low costs.  Below is a list of retirement savings account options for solo entrepreneurs.

 

Solo 401(k)

SEP IRA

SIMPLE IRA

Best for

•   Self-employed individuals, sole proprietors, and business partners and their spouses who are employed by the business.

•   Those with no employees.

•   Self-employed individuals or W-2 worker with freelance income.

•   Self-employed individuals or any business with 100 or fewer employees.

Advantages

•   Offers highest contribution limits.  (You can contribute as an employee and a business owner.)

•   Contributions are tax-deductible.

•   Contributions are discretionary; you determine how much or little to contribute annually.

•   Easy to set up and maintain.

•   Contributions are tax-deductible.

•   Contributions are discretionary; you determine how much or little to contribute annually.

•   Easy to set up and maintain.  

 

•   Contributions are tax-deductible.

•   Contributions are discretionary; you determine how much or little to contribute annually.

•   Easy to set up and maintain.  

Contributors

•   Employee deferrals and employer contributions

•   Employer contributions

•   Employee deferrals and employer contributions

2021 employee contribution limits

•   Up to 100% of compensation not to exceed $19,500 for 2021.

•   N/A

•   Up to $13,500 in salary for 2021.

•   Up to $16,500 if age 50 or older for 2021.

2021 employer contribution limits

•   Up to 25% of compensation not to exceed $58,000 for 2021.

•   Up to 25% of compensation not to exceed $58,000 for 2021.

•   Dollar-for-dollar match up to 3% of employee salary.

•   Contribute 2% of each employee’s salary.

Plan setup deadlines

•   December 31, 2021, for 2021 contribution.

•   Establish by April 15, 2022, or October 15, 2022 (if file extension) for 2021 contribution.

•   Establish by October 1, 2021, for 2021 contribution.  

Contribution Deadline

•   April 15, 2022

•   October 15, 2022, if file tax extension

•   April 15, 2022

•   October 15, 2022, if file tax extension

•   April 15, 2022

 

Benefits of retirement accounts 

Let’s assume that you’re a solo entrepreneur earning $100,000 per year and your net income (minus business expenses) is $75,000 per year.  Here’s a comparison of how much you can contribute to different retirement accounts:

A bar graph of the retirement account options and annual contribution limits for solo entrepreneurs: solo 401k, SEP IRA, SIMPLE IRA  

As you can see, a solo 401k offers two times the annual contribution limit versus its nearest competitors.  Additionally, the more you contribute to your retirement account, the more you save in income tax.  Based on the table below, if you max out your annual contribution to a solo 401k, you’re able to save $6,279 in annual income tax.  So, the more you save the more you have to save (or spend).

 

Solo 401

SIMPLE IRA

SEP IRA

Traditional IRA

Retirement Contribution

$33,440

$15,530

$13,940

$6,000

Effective Tax Rate – No Contribution

20%

20%

20%

20%

Effective Tax Rate – Post Contribution

12%

15.8%

16.3%

18.6%

Tax Savings

$6,279

$3,440

$3,090

$1,320

     

     Moreover, if you have additional savings, consider pairing your solo 401k annual contribution with a Roth IRA.  This will enable you to sock away up to $6,000 per year in a tax-free account ($7,000 for those age 50 and over).  (NOTE: For those with high Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) and, thus, do not qualify for a Roth IRA, consider doing a backdoor Roth IRA.)  By contributing to your tax-deferred account (solo 401k) and your tax-free account (Roth IRA), you enable yourself to manage income tax more effectively come withdrawal time. 

 

Finally, for solo entrepreneurs looking for more time to generate more income/savings so as to max out the preceding year’s contribution limit, consider filing a tax extension.  This way, your contribution deadline is October 15, rather than April 15.  (Caveat: Please work with your accountant to confirm your annual contribution limit and when they are due.)


Conclusion

Choosing the right retirement savings account depends on your earnings, savings, goals, investment horizon, etc. However, for most solo entrepreneurs, the solo 401k is probably the best bet.  It’s similar to other retirement savings accounts, but on steroids.

As all entrepreneurs know intimately, risk and reward are inextricably intertwined.  By choosing to work for yourself, you are taking on enormous risks. However, should you succeed, you also stand to reap great rewards.  One such reward is being able to stash far more in retirement accounts than most other workers.  In so doing, you’re able to build wealth more quickly and, thus, expedite your journey towards financial independence.  

 

RECENT POSTS

Stage with red curtains and sets of a town

August Market Dip – Dress Rehearsal?

Investing

October 2024

August steep market decline serves as a useful dress rehearsal for how we might react in a bear market and what we should do now to increase survival.

A young woman reading a book while sitting on a ledge near the window.

Summer Reading: 3 Books I Recommend

Personal Commentary

July 2024

We often look to books for answers to Life’s persistent questions. However, these three books reveal that contradictions can reflect a higher truth than mere beliefs in this or that.

A red and white striped windsock blowing in the wind while planted in the middle of a green field

My thoughts on markets and money: Risks and returns

Investing

May 2024

Given 2023 stock market’s reversal of 2022 decline, I want to share my thoughts on markets and money by highlighting potential risks and returns to help you chart your financial course forward.

Get a free financial education.

Learn more about key financial topics, such as investing, 401k, disability insurance, paying for a home, at your own convenience. Sign up for Women’s Wealth monthly newsletter and have relevant information delivered to your inbox.