Solo 401(k) Playbook
Solo 401(k) math, deadlines, and bracket decisions, without the broker spin.
Solo 401(k) 2026 Limits, in Plain English
Employee deferral $23,500. Combined cap $70,000. Plus the SECURE 2.0 super catch-up that takes 60-63 year-olds to $81,250.
Read→Solo 401(k) Deadline: When You Actually Have to Open the Plan
Pre-2019 you needed the plan open by Dec 31. SECURE Act killed that. Now: tax filing deadline including extensions.
Read→Solo 401(k) vs SEP IRA: How to Pick in Under 5 Minutes
Three questions: Do you want to defer salary? Do you want Roth? Do you want loan access? Two yeses → Solo 401(k).
Read→S-Corp vs Sole Prop: Which Squeezes More into a Solo 401(k)
Same income, different math: 25% of W-2 vs ~20% of net SE earnings. At what income does the S-Corp election pay for itself just from extra 401(k) room?
Read→Roth vs Traditional Solo 401(k): The Bracket Math Nobody Explains
Conventional wisdom: Roth if young, Traditional if old. Real answer: compare your current marginal rate to your expected retirement marginal rate. If retirement rate is higher, Roth wins.
Read→Solo 401(k) Loans: Rules, Cost, and When to Use Them
Borrow up to 50% of vested balance, max $50,000, repaid over 5 years. Interest goes to your own account. Default at the wrong time and the IRS bills it as income.
Read→