If you’re a U.S. resident taxpayer who is 18 or older, self-employed with no full-time employees (except yourself or your spouse), you’re potentially eligible to set up a Solo 401k with Carry. You must have earned income from self-employment, consulting, freelancing, or business ownership to contribute to the plan. Eligibility is determined under IRS rules and may vary based on your specific circumstances
Carry Solo 401k
The most powerful retirement account for the self-employed⍏
Designed specifically for self-employed go-getters, the Carry Solo 401k can help you supercharge your retirement savings, cut your tax bill, and invest with freedom.
Limit for W2 employee contribution
*Total employee + employer limit
Please review FAQs for eligibility requirements
Mega Backdoor Roth conversions made simple
A Mega Backdoor Roth conversion allows you contribute up to $70,000 in after-tax dollars to your Solo 401k, then convert it to Roth for potential tax-free growth and tax-free withdrawals in retirement.
What typically takes multiple providers and complex paperwork, Carry makes seamless—in just a few clicks.
IRS annual limits apply ($70,000 in 2025, including all employee and employer contributions). Eligibility varies. Roth treatment requires meeting IRS rules (e.g., age 59½ and 5-year holding period). Not tax or legal advice.
Features built to support you at every stage of your journey
Penalty-free loans
Borrow up to 50% of your account balance or $50,000 (whichever is less), without early-withdrawal penalties—access your money when you need it.
Contribution election calculator
Estimate how much you may be able put away towards retirement with our easy-to-use contribution calculator.
Support for Roth, Pre-Tax, or both
Open a Roth account to optimize your taxes in retirement, or a Pre-Tax account to save on taxes now— or, enjoy the best of both worlds.
EACA tax credit eligibility, up to $1500
Unlock up to $1,500 in tax credits under the EACA program—a federal credit that helps offset the costs of setting up a new retirement plan for your business.
Support for spouses and business partners
Add your spouse to your Carry Solo 401k to make the most out of retirement contributions together— each participant contributes up to their individual limit, while sharing one plan.
For business partner or co-owners, separate accounts make it easy to manage contributions side-by-side.
Each participant needs their own Carry membership.
Explore diverse investment options
Go beyond typical mutual fund menus. Access stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds, or use your retirement account to hold real estate, startup, private fund investments, and more—all through one platform.
Prefer a hands-off approach? Explore Smart Yield or our Roboadvisor. Your retirement, your choices.
Choose your Carry membership
Core
$29 /month
or $299/year
Solo 401k, IRAs, and Taxable Brokerage accounts
Invest in equities including stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds
Access to managed investments including Smart Yield and Roboadvisor
Add on tax filing, tax planning, bookkeeping, and financial planning for an additional fee
Full access to 20+ courses
Pro
$49 /month
or $499/year
Everything on Core, plus:
Invest in Crypto in your Traditional or Roth IRA
Access to Alternative investments in your Solo 401k, Roth IRA, or Traditional IRA
Advanced Solo 401k support including EACA credit filing
Questions before joining?
Who is eligible to set up a Solo 401k with Carry?
Do I need an LLC, or can I set this up as a sole proprietor?
You don’t need an LLC. You can set up a Solo 401k as a sole proprietor, freelancer, or independent contractor.
Can I contribute to a Solo 401k if I have a full-time job and side hustle?
Yes, if you earn self-employment income from a side hustle, you can contribute that income to a Solo 401k alongside your employer-sponsored retirement plan. Contribution limits may apply.
Can I invest in crypto from a Carry Solo 401k?
While direct crypto investments aren’t currently available in Solo 401k accounts, you can gain crypto exposure through publicly traded crypto ETFs that are available on the platform.
Can I invest in alternative assets from a Carry Solo 401k?
Yes, with a Carry Solo 401k, you can invest in alternative assets like real estate, startups, and private funds.
Carry Advisors does not manage or provide advice on self-directed alternative investments. All investment decisions in these accounts are made solely by the account holder and are not reviewed, recommended, or monitored by Carry Advisors.
What accounts can I rollover into a Carry Solo 401k?
With our guided rollover process, you can transfer an existing 401k, Solo 401k, Traditional IRA, 403B, 457B, SEP IRA, or SIMPLE IRA into Carry just in a few simple steps.
How do I fund my Solo 401k?
You can fund your Solo 401k from any linked bank account. However, your business, payroll provider, or tax service may have specific requirements to accurately report your Solo 401k contributions.
Are my funds protected?
Yes, each of your accounts is subject to protection through insurance coverage and/or regulatory safeguards. Depending on the investment account type (brokerage, bank or trust), your funds will be covered by either FDIC, SIPC or other regulatory safeguards provided by our custodian partners.