Carry Learning Center

Borrowing from a 401k can feel like a short-term fix, but it may lead to unexpected taxes if employment changes or payments stop.  This article explains two situations that often cause confusion: a loan default that turns into a taxable deemed distribution, and a plan loan offset (including a Qualified Plan Loan Offset, or QPLO) where [...]

Starting in 2026, many Solo 401k owners aged 50 and older will face new rules on how they handle “catch-up” contributions. Under the SECURE 2.0 Act, those with prior-year wages above a certain threshold must designate catch-up deferrals as Roth. This means they’ll be made with after-tax dollars, without reducing current-year taxable income. The IRS has [...]

If you’re setting up a Solo 401k for 2025, you’re probably focused on maximizing your retirement savings and reducing current income taxes. But there’s another piece that often trips up self-employed filers and small business owners: how these contributions affect payroll taxes like Social Security and Medicare. A Solo 401k can shelter a meaningful portion of [...]

Having a side business can open the door to extra retirement savings, especially if you are already participating in a 401k through your day job. At first glance, it may look like you are doubling your retirement benefits. But the IRS has contribution limits that apply across both plans, and coordinating them takes careful planning. You [...]

Roth conversions can offer long-term tax advantages, but they come with short-term consequences you need to plan for. When you move money from a traditional IRA or 401k into a Roth account, the conversion is taxable in the year it happens. Once completed, you can’t undo it. The 2025 tax year brings extra pressure to get [...]

Earning both W-2 and 1099 income opens the door to extra retirement contributions — but it also adds complexity. If you already have a 401k through your employer and want to set up a Solo 401k for your side business, the IRS has strict coordination rules you must follow. It’s easy to make honest mistakes that [...]

Running your own business or side gig? You might want to consider a retirement plan made for people like you.  A Solo 401k could be a strong option. It’s built for self-employed individuals, with higher contribution limits and generally more flexibility than regular retirement accounts. In this guide, we’re looking at two different Solo 401k plan providers: [...]

Running your own business does not mean missing out on the tax benefits often available to employees at larger companies. A Solo 401k can potentially help freelancers, consultants, and single-member LLC owners defer ordinary income taxes and save meaningful dollars for retirement in a tax-advantaged way.  For 2025, the IRS has increased employee contribution limits and [...]

Understanding Solo 401k rules can get more complicated once part-time employees enter the picture. Starting in 2025, the SECURE Act 2.0 requires certain long-term, part-time workers to be included in retirement plans. This means small-business owners and self-employed individuals need to know which employees qualify, how contributions are handled, and what compliance steps apply. For example, [...]