Learn

Solo-operator finance, explained without the fluff

Every article here pairs with a calculator on this site. Concept on the left, math on the right — both written by a solo operator, both cited to primary sources (IRS Publications, Internal Revenue Code, Treasury Regulations), both reviewed on a quarterly cadence. This is launch content; more articles are in progress.

Retirement Savings

Solo 401(k) vs SEP-IRA: which fits your operator profile

Solo 401(k) has the employee + employer two-stack structure that SEP-IRA doesn't, so for most self-employed operators earning under ~$300K it produces a higher max contribution. SEP-IRA wins on administrative simplicity. Here's the math + the IRS Pub 560 / IRC §401(k) framework.

Updated May 9, 2026 · Pairs with /calculators/solo-401k-vs-sep-ira

Entity Structure

S-Corp election: when it actually pays for self-employed operators

S-Corp election saves on self-employment tax, but the savings are smaller than the LinkedIn-influencer pitch suggests once you account for payroll setup, reasonable salary administration, and the additional Schedule K-1 / Form 1120-S filings. Here's the operator-grade threshold where the math actually flips.

Updated May 9, 2026 · Pairs with /calculators/llc-vs-s-corp