Tax-Advantaged Savings Optimizer
The stack of accounts that shelters the most income at your numbers — which employer plan wins, plus the IRA and HSA that layer on top.
Your details
Rough figures are fine — you can refine later.
How we calculate this
We combine four shelters into a recommended stack.
1. Employer plan. We compute both a Solo 401(k) (#15) and a SEP IRA (#16) and take the larger, since they overlap in practice.
2. IRA. The full IRA limit for your age stacks on top. We also report your Roth eligibility (#17) using net profit as a MAGI proxy, so you know whether the IRA slice can be Roth.
3. HSA. If you have an HSA-eligible HDHP, the HSA limit (#34's hsa() helper) stacks too.
4. Total. Best employer plan + IRA limit + HSA. These are contribution ceilings, not a funding schedule.
Assumptions: sole proprietor, no employees; net profit used as a MAGI proxy for the Roth check. This is a planning estimate, not tax advice — confirm with a CPA/EA.
Primary sources
- IRS Publication 560, Retirement Plans for Small Business
- IRS Publication 969, HSAs and Other Tax-Favored Health Plans
- IRS Publication 590-A, Contributions to IRAs
Which accounts shelter the most — for you
Self-employed savers have more tax-advantaged options than employees, not fewer — the problem is knowing which ones stack and which ones overlap. This calculator takes your income, age, filing status, and health-plan situation and returns a single recommended stack: the employer plan that wins, plus the accounts that pile on top of it.
Enter your net profit, age, filing status, whether you have an HSA-eligible high-deductible plan, and your tax year. You get your total shelterable amount and how it breaks down.
The one choice, then the add-ons
The key insight is that a Solo 401(k) and a SEP IRA do the same job — they're two versions of the same employer contribution, and running both for one business rarely makes sense. So the first decision is which of the two shelters more at your income. At most income levels the Solo 401(k) wins, because it adds an employee deferral on top of the same 20% employer contribution. This tool computes both and picks the larger.
Then come the accounts that genuinely stack:
- An IRA — the full annual limit sits on top of your employer plan. We also check your Roth eligibility (using net profit as a MAGI proxy) so you know whether that IRA slice can be a Roth or should go traditional/backdoor.
- An HSA — if you have an HSA-eligible high-deductible health plan, the HSA limit stacks too. It's triple-tax-advantaged and, after 65, works like an IRA for any purpose, which makes it one of the most efficient shelters available.
Ceilings, not a funding schedule
The total this tool gives is the sum of your contribution limits — the maximum you *could* shelter, not a bill you must pay. How much of each to actually fund depends on your cash flow. A common priority order is: fund an HSA, then the employer plan up to what you can afford, then the IRA. If money is tight, even partial contributions to the highest-leverage account beat waiting for a year you can max everything.
Why this beats asking a chatbot
A generic answer can't weigh a Solo 401(k) against a SEP *at your specific income*, or tell you whether your Roth is phased out this year. This does both with the current-year limits, so the recommendation reflects your actual numbers rather than a rule of thumb.
What this is
A planning estimate for a sole proprietor with no employees; net profit is used as a MAGI proxy for the Roth check, which can differ slightly from your true MAGI. Not tax advice — confirm the mix and amounts with a CPA or EA before opening accounts.
Common questions
What is the best retirement account for the self-employed? + −
It depends on income, but the usual winner for maximum shelter is a Solo 401(k), because it combines an employee deferral with an employer contribution. A SEP IRA is simpler but usually shelters less at the same income. On top of whichever employer plan you pick, an IRA and (if you have a high-deductible health plan) an HSA both stack.
Can I have a Solo 401(k) and a SEP at the same time? + −
For one business it rarely makes sense to run both — they serve the same role and share contribution limits. This tool picks the one that shelters more and treats it as your employer plan, then adds the accounts that genuinely stack: an IRA and an HSA.
Does the HSA really belong in a retirement stack? + −
Yes. An HSA is triple-tax-advantaged — deductible going in, tax-free growth, and tax-free withdrawals for medical costs — and after age 65 it works like a traditional IRA for any purpose. If you have an HSA-eligible high-deductible health plan, it is one of the most efficient shelters available.
Is this the order I should fund them in? + −
A common priority is: capture any match (rare when self-employed), then HSA, then the employer plan up to the amount you can afford, then the IRA. This tool sizes the ceilings; how much of each you fund depends on your cash flow.
Keep going
Prepared for tax year 2026. Every rate and cap on this page cites a primary IRS or SSA source. Estimates only — not tax or financial advice. — for planning purposes only, not tax, legal, or financial advice.