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Retirement Plans for the Self-Employed: How to Compare Your Options

Working for yourself means no employer plan, so you pick the account and run it. A look at the questions that help you compare options like a SEP and a Solo 401(k).

November 14, 2026 ยท 3 min read
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Photo by Aaron Huber on Unsplash

When you work for yourself, nobody enrolls you in a retirement plan. There is no HR portal, no payroll deduction and no company match. You choose the account, open it and decide how much goes in.

The good news is that there is more than one type of plan built for this situation. A recent NerdWallet guide, 5 Self-Employed Retirement Plans to Consider, rounds up five options, including a SEP and a Solo 401(k). This article does not repeat that list. It gives you a way to compare plans so the details you read make sense.

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