Retirement (US)
Retirement Saving When You're Your Own Employer (US)
SEP IRA vs Solo 401(k), how much to save on uneven income, and the deadlines that matter. US rules, no product picks.
When you work for yourself, there's no employer pension, no automatic deduction, and no match. If you don't set retirement money aside yourself, it simply doesn't happen — and irregular income makes it easy to postpone until the good month that never quite arrives.
The order matters
Most freelancers do better building the buffer and emergency fund first, then saving for retirement from a steadier base. Retirement money you raid in a bad month isn't retirement money. Get the short-term system working, then automate a retirement contribution you can keep through a slow quarter.
What this pillar will not do
It won't pick an investment, a fund, or an account for you. It will explain the kinds of accounts self-employed people in the US commonly use, how contribution limits work in general terms, and why irregular income changes the timing of contributions. For a personal choice, consult a tax or financial professional.
Related tools: budget calculator and emergency-fund calculator — fund those first, then return here.
Guides in this pillar
Guide · HOLD
SEP IRA vs Solo 401(k) for Freelancers: Which Lets You Save More? (US)
Which lets you save more, and which is simpler.
Guide · HOLD
How Much Should a Freelancer Save for Retirement on Uneven Income? (US)
A percentage-of-every-payment method for uneven income.
Guide · HOLD
Can a Freelancer Have a Roth IRA and a SEP IRA (or Solo 401(k))? (US)
Yes, they can sit side by side — here is how the limits fit.
Guide · HOLD
How to Keep Saving for Retirement When Your Income Won't Sit Still (US)
Save heavily in strong months, pause without panic in slow ones.
Guide · HOLD
Freelancer Retirement Deadlines and Catch-Up Contributions After 50 (US)
The December deadline that cannot be rescued, and catch-ups after 50.
Calculators for this pillar
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Educational only. These numbers are estimates from the assumptions shown on the page — not advice for your situation, and not a prediction of what you'll owe or save. Tax and retirement rules change. Consult a tax professional before you act on a tax or retirement figure.