Solo 401k, SEP IRA, HSA, and self-employed health insurance deduction guides.
The 2026 Solo 401k lets you stack a $23,000 employee deferral with up to 25% of compensation as employer profit-sharing, for a combined $69,000 limit ($76,500 at 50+). Here is how the math works for sole proprietors, when to fund each bucket, and where a $150k freelancer actually lands.
Read Article →SEP IRA and Solo 401k both cap at $69,000 for 2026, but the Solo 401k allows far more at moderate income thanks to the $23,000 employee deferral. Here is the head-to-head math at $80k, $150k, and $300k of profit, plus when simplicity wins over maxing out.
Read Article →The Roth IRA contribution limit is $7,000 for 2026 ($8,000 if 50+), but the income phaseout ends at $161,000 for single filers. Here is how the backdoor Roth strategy works for high-earning freelancers, the pro-rata trap to avoid, and when a Roth Solo 401k is the cleaner path.
Read Article →The 2026 HSA limits are $4,150 for self-only and $8,300 for family coverage, plus a $1,000 catch-up at 55. An HSA is the only account with a true triple tax advantage — deductible in, tax-free growth, tax-free medical withdrawals. Here is how a self-employed worker maximizes it.
Read Article →Self-employed workers can deduct 100% of health, dental, and qualified long-term care insurance premiums above-the-line on Schedule 1 for 2026. Here is how the deduction works, the net-profit limit, the Premium Tax Credit interaction, and what a $14k premium bill saves a freelancer at 24%.
Read Article →COBRA lets you keep a former employer plan for up to 18 months, but you pay the full premium plus 2% admin. ACA Marketplace plans often cost less for freelancers thanks to Premium Tax Credits. Here is the math at $650 COBRA vs $250 subsidized ACA, and when each wins.
Read Article →A SEP IRA takes five minutes to open at Fidelity, Vanguard, or Schwab using Form 5305-SEP, and you can fund it as late as your extended filing deadline. Here is the step-by-step setup, the 25%-of-compensation / $69,000 limit, and what a $200k consultant saves in taxes.
Read Article →A Roth conversion ladder lets freelancers who retire before 59½ access retirement funds penalty-free by converting traditional IRA money to Roth in annual chunks and waiting five years. Here is how the ladder works, the tax brackets to target, and a $50k-a-year example.
Read Article →At age 50 you can add a $7,500 catch-up to a Solo 401k (total $76,500), a $1,000 catch-up to an IRA (total $8,000), and a $1,000 catch-up to an HSA at 55. Here is how stacking all three lets a 55-year-old freelancer shelter nearly $90,000 in tax-advantaged accounts for 2026.
Read Article →For a freelancer, the biggest asset is the ability to earn — and disability insurance protects it. Here is how own-occupation coverage works for the self-employed, why paying premiums with after-tax dollars matters, and what a $120k earner pays for a $6,000 monthly benefit.
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