If you’re self-employed with no full-time employees (other than yourself or a spouse), you can set up a Solo 401k.
Carry Solo 401k
The smart way to maximize your retirement savings
Designed specifically for self-employed go-getters, the Carry Solo 401k helps you supercharge your retirement savings, cut your tax bill, and invest with total freedom.
10X
Contribute up to 10 times more with your
Solo 401k than an IRA *
$1,500
Carry maximizes your eligibility for the EACA
tax credit (up to $1,500 over 3 years)
0%
No AUM fees, no matter what you start
with, or how much your funds grow
The benefits are (almost) endless
Tax-free loans
You can borrow up to 50% of your vested account balance or
$50,000 (whichever is less) without early-withdrawal
penalties.
Mega Backdoor Roth
Contribute after-tax dollars and Carry will automatically
convert it to Roth, all in just a few clicks.
Election calculator
Make smarter contributions with our easy-to-use calculator,
helping you estimate just how much you can put away.
Add spouses and business partners
Add your spouse or business partner/co-owner to your Carry
Solo 401k (requires separate Carry accounts for each
participant).
Support for Roth, Pre-Tax, or both
Open a Roth account to save on taxes in retirement, or a
Pre-Tax account to save on taxes now— or, enjoy the best of
both worlds.
Automated payroll integrations
Automate contributions seamlessly with providers like Gusto.
EACA tax credit up to $1500
$1500 Tax Credit maximum eligibility through EACA.
No hidden AUM fees
No AUM fees and transparent pricing.
Real success stories from real customers
"Checks every box, and supports Roth Contributions."
"Very very impressed with Carry. Checks every box and supports Roth contributions to Solo 401(k), including mega backdoor Roth and even has self-directed IRAs for those who want that. Great resources. Clean/easy-to-use website. Great support."
Ryan Odom
Entrepreneur
These are real testimonials from real customers, who have not been compensated.
Why choose Carry for your Solo 401k?
0% AUM fees, no matter the size of your Solo 401k
Worried about scaling fees? Carry's roboadvisor has zero AUM fees, no matter how large your portfolio grows.
Get set up in just a few minutes
Opening up your account can take just a few minutes, and enjoy the benefit of digital forms. We also make switching to Carry from another provider super simple.
SIPC Protection and FDIC Insurance
Certain Solo401k accounts on Carry are eligible for FDIC or
SIPC insurance, provided by their respective custodians. See
details
Mega Backdoor Roth in just a few clicks
A Mega Backdoor Roth conversion is a strategy that lets you put more money into your Solo 401k Roth retirement account by converting after-tax contributions into your Solo 401k Roth or Roth IRA account— up to $70,000 for 2025.
The Carry platform lets you do this in just a few clicks, and handles the conversion automatically.
Invest in (almost) anything you like
With the Carry Solo 401k, you can invest in a variety of assets all from the same platform. Invest in stocks & ETFs, including popular options from Vanguard, or take advantage of the Carry Roboadvisor for hands-off investing.
We also make it straightforward to invest in alternative assets like real estate, private equity, or venture funds through your Solo 401k (crypto investing is available through the Carry IRA).
Automated payroll contributions
Carry’s integration with Gusto allows you to automatically fund your Solo 401k directly from your paycheck. Manage your contribution amount and cadence directly from Carry. Amounts are deducted from your payroll before they hit your bank account.
Looking to switch? Simple.
If you already have a Solo 401k, our goal is to make rolling it over to Carry simple. You can also rollover a qualifying 401k or Traditional IRA into your Solo 401k.
Discover why our customers trust Carry
"I am in *heaven* with Carry. Payroll deduction to my Solo 401k and then automatically invested. You solved the use case that matters most. If i wasn’t running my own startup, I’d want to work with you all."
Cheryl Kellond, Carry Customer
"Major shoutout to my tax strategist from [Carry]. She crafted for me a 32-page tax and financial plan that outlined insurance, retirement, and how to achieve my LT goals."
Austin Hankwitz, Carry Customer
"Thanks so much. I reviewed my financial plan and it provided a lot of guidance and things to think about in terms of my long-term goals."
Sherrell Dorsey, Carry Customer
"It was one of the first platforms I’ve seen that specifically targets and helps solopreneurs, s-corp owners, self-employed, and gives them an all-in-one platform to easily manage retirement and tax saving strategies and accounts. I once tried to open a Solo 401k with [Other Provider], and it was a daunting task. Carry was a few clicks."
Nick Chester, Carry Customer
"I love Carry so much. It was so easy to set up my Solo 401k (which if you’ve ever tried to do that, it’s not always super simple) and inside I was able to invest in a ton of different ETF options"
Erin Confortini, Carry Customer
These are real testimonials from real customers, who have not been compensated.
Get Started with Carry
Basic Plan
$29 /month
or $299/year Solo 401k, IRAs & non-retirement Brokerage Accounts
No AUM fees
Eligible business expense for your taxes
Automated Mega Backdoor Roth and Roth IRA conversions
Add-on access to a Certified Financial Planner™ for
additional charge
Great for maximizing retirement savings without management fees.
Pro Plan
$49 /month
or $499/year Everything in the Basic Plan, plus:
Invest in alternative assets (from your Solo 401k and
IRA)
Invest in crypto (from your IRA)
Payroll integration with Gusto
A great fit if you're self-employed and seeking to automate your contributions or explore further investment types.
VIP Plan
$500-$1,500 /month
or $6K-$18K/year Everything in the Pro Plan, plus:
Personalized planning with an expert to identify top
tax-saving opportunities
High quality bookkeeping and payroll services to help
you stay organized
Integrated tax filing for both personal and business
returns
Ideal for business owners earning $200k+ in annual profit.
Questions before joining?
Who is eligible to set up a Solo 401k?
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 a side hustle?
Yes! If you have self-employment income from a side hustle, you can be eligible to contribute to a Solo 401k in addition to any employer-sponsored plan.
Why does Carry have a membership fee?
At Carry, we believe in simplicity and transparency. That’s why we offer a straightforward membership model—so you always know exactly what you’re paying. Your membership gives you access to robust features and flexibility that many other providers don’t, including advanced investment options, Mega Backdoor Roth support, and seamless account management—all with no AUM fees. Learn more here.
Can I invest in alternative assets from a Solo 401k?
Yes! With the Carry Solo 401k, you can invest in stocks, ETFs (including Vanguard), as well as alternative assets like real estate, private equity, and venture funds. (For crypto investing, check out the Carry IRA.)
Can I invest in index funds or ETFs with Carry?
Yes! With Carry, you have full access to invest in a wide range of index funds and ETFs, including popular options from providers like Vanguard. Not to mention— there are no additional fees for investing in these funds through Carry, so you won’t pay more than if you invested directly with Vanguard.
How easy is it to move my current Solo 401k or IRA to Carry?
Moving your account is straightforward. With our guided rollover process, you can transfer your existing Solo 401k or IRA into Carry in just a few steps.
What’s included in a Carry membership?
Your Carry membership includes access to a range of powerful features, tailored to your plan:
- Solo 401k: Maximize your contributions and invest in stocks, ETFs, and more. (Pro Plan includes alternative assets like real estate, private equity, and venture funds.)
- Mega Backdoor Roth Support: Grow your retirement savings faster with our Mega Backdoor Roth option.
- IRA (Traditional and Roth): Manage investments with a Carry IRA (Pro Plan includes alternative assets like crypto)
- Gusto Payroll Integrations: Seamlessly integrate your Gusto payroll with Solo 401k contributions (Pro plan)
- Financial Education: Access on-demand courses and workshops designed for business owners to optimize personal finance and tax strategies.
- Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) Access: Financial Planning is an add-on available to any Carry membership and is provided by our partner Uprise.
- Investment Tracking: Seamlessly monitor and manage your Carry investments across all accounts.
Are my funds protected?
Yes, your funds have multiple layers of protection through both insurance coverage and regulatory safeguards. Depending on the investment account type, your investment will be covered by either FDIC, SIPC or other regulatory safeguards provided by our custodian partners. Learn more here.
At Carry, we take the safety and security of your assets very seriously. That's why we partner only with reputable, well-established custodians to hold your funds. Carry does not custody or hold any funds. The specific safeguards and protections depend on the type of custodian:
Bank Custodians (Grasshopper Bank, N.A.)
Current Carry accounts custodied with Bank Custodians
- Solo401k Alternative Investing
When your funds are custodied at our partner bank Grasshopper Bank, N.A., they are covered by FDIC insurance. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is an independent federal agency that protects you against the loss of your insured deposits if an FDIC-insured bank or savings association fails. FDIC insurance is backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government. Carry is a technology company, not a bank or member FDIC.
Broker-Dealer Custodians (DriveWealth, LLC)
Current Carry accounts custodied with Broker-Dealer Custodians
- Solo401k Stocks & ETFs
- IRA Stocks & ETFs
- Brokerage Accounts
- Cash
Trust Company Custodians (American Estate & Trust)
Current Carry accounts custodied with Trust Companies
- IRA Alternative Investing
- IRA Crypto Investing
When your funds are held at our trust company partner, American Estate & Trust (AET), they are not FDIC insured as AET is not a bank. However, AET is regulated by the Nevada Financial Institutions Division and is subject to rigorous capital requirements, regulatory oversight and periodic examinations. Your assets are held separate from AET's corporate assets and are not used in the conduct of AET's business.
AET accounts are also protected by their errors and omissions insurance policy which covers potential losses resulting from negligence, errors, or other wrongful acts committed by AET employees in the course of their work. This insurance provides an extra layer of protection for your assets. It's important to note that none of these insurances protect against the decline or complete loss of value of your securities, or any fraud or mismanagement associated with your alternative investments. All investing involves risk, especially investing in alternative assets.
I have more questions, how can I contact you?
We’re here to help! Just send us an email at hello@carry.com and we’ll get back to you with all the answers you need.