Transparency
Rules & sources
Every number on your plan comes from a published rule. We surface them all here in plain English so you (or your CPA) can audit our math.
Traditional & Roth IRA (2026)
- Contribution limit
- $7,500
- Catch-up (50+)
- +$1,100 (total $8,600)
- Roth phase-out single
- $153,000–$168,000
- Roth phase-out MFJ
- $242,000–$252,000
SEP IRA (2026)
- Effective contribution rate (sole prop)
- ~20% of net SE earnings
- Annual cap
- $72,000
Solo 401(k) (2026)
- Employee deferral
- $24,500
- Catch-up (50+)
- +$8,000
- Total annual cap
- $72,000
SIMPLE IRA & HSA (2026)
- SIMPLE deferral
- $17,000
- SIMPLE catch-up
- +$4,000
- HSA self-only
- $4,400
- HSA family
- $8,750
- HSA catch-up (55+)
- +$1,000
Social Security (2026)
- Earnings per credit
- $1,890
- Max credits/year
- 4
- Earnings for full 4 credits
- $7,560
- Lifetime credits required
- 40
- Benefit calculation window
- 35 highest indexed years
- Full retirement age (FRA)
- 67
How recommendations are chosen
- If HSA-eligible: HSA first (triple tax advantage).
- Roth IRA next, if income is below the phase-out.
- Solo 401(k) preferred over SEP when income is moderate or you want Roth deferrals.
- SEP IRA when simplicity beats flexibility.
- Taxable brokerage for any overflow above tax-advantaged limits.
Primary sources
Ambiguous assumptions we flag rather than hide: 2026 plan limits for Solo 401(k) and SIMPLE IRA reflect IRS COLA conventions and may shift slightly upon official release. Roth phase-out brackets shown reflect IRS 2026 guidance. Social Security PIA estimates here are directional — final amounts depend on your actual indexed earnings record.