Self-employed retirement · Business planning
Contribution room, split into the buckets that matter.
Self-employed retirement math gets slippery because one person can wear two hats: employee and employer. GlidePath separates the employee deferral, employer contribution, age catch-up, existing W-2 deferrals, and shared annual plan ceiling so a solo 401(k) / SEP comparison is reviewable instead of just impressive.
Shows the contribution math. Your plan document and professional team control what is available.
A high-earning side practice can outgrow spreadsheet retirement math fast.
The number changes depending on entity type, net earnings, W-2 wage, age, other jobs, and what the plan document allows. That is exactly why the page keeps each input visible.
The goal is not to tell a physician, dentist, lawyer, or consultant what plan to open. It is to show the room that may exist, expose the assumptions behind it, and hand the facts to the CPA / TPA conversation without pretending the software created the plan.
What makes it reviewable.
Employee and employer are not blended
A solo 401(k) has two contribution paths for an owner. GlidePath shows both, then shows the combined annual ceiling so the total cannot quietly exceed the statutory limit.
Other-job deferrals stay in view
Existing W-2 deferrals reduce the remaining employee-deferral room. The app does not pretend a side business gets a brand-new employee limit.
The plan document still rules
Mega-backdoor availability, employee coverage, deadlines, payroll handling, Form 5500 needs, and actual plan setup are left to the provider and professional review.
GlidePath estimates contribution room from the facts you enter. It is not retirement-plan, tax, legal, payroll, or investment advice. Confirm the final plan design and contribution with a qualified professional.
Solo 401(k) & SEP IRA questions
Can GlidePath compare solo 401(k) and SEP IRA contribution room?
Yes. It estimates the employee deferral and employer contribution buckets for a solo 401(k), compares the SEP-style employer contribution path, and shows the shared annual-plan limits and catch-up context.
Does it account for W-2 deferrals already used elsewhere?
Yes. Existing employee deferrals are shown as a separate input because the employee deferral limit is shared across plans. The page shows the remaining room rather than pretending each plan starts fresh.
Does it set up the plan or decide the plan type?
No. It estimates contribution room and the hand-off facts. A provider, TPA, payroll setup, CPA, or plan document controls eligibility, deadlines, employee coverage, mega-backdoor availability, and filing requirements.