Self-employed retirement plans Oceanside, CA. The flexibility of running your own company in Oceanside, CA is one of the best aspects of working for yourself. That said, this freedom can come with a lack of security, particularly regarding building your retirement fund, because you don't have the option of a workplace retirement plan. Only 13% of self-employed individuals have a workplace retirement plan, although many should consider exploring their options. In addition to having a more secure retirement, partnering with a financial advisor in Oceanside, CA to establish your self-employed retirement plan offers significant tax advantages that allow you to move your business forward.
Few Oceanside, CA financial advisory and retirement planning firms understand the needs of small business owners quite like Correct Capital. The father of our founder was a small business owner himself (learn more about our story here), and Correct Capital are deeply experienced in supporting entrepreneurs with their retirement planning needs. We recognize that your goals for your business and retirement extend well past just monetary concerns, and we are dedicated to provide personalized solutions to meet your unique goals. Keep reading to learn more about your self-employed retirement plan options in Oceanside, CA, or give us a call at Correct Capital at 877-930-401k or contact us online to consult with a small business financial advisor in Oceanside, CA today.
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Why Oceanside, CA Self-Employed Individuals Should Have a Retirement Plan
Retirement plans for self-employed individuals not only prepare you for the future, they also provide immediate benefits today. From flexible contributions to considerable tax savings, partnering with a financial advisor in Oceanside, CA enables you to design your retirement plan to align with your individual circumstances.
Flexibility That Fits Your Income
When your earnings vary from year to year, a plan like a SEP IRA or Solo 401(k) gives you the option to tailor how much you save:
- Customizable Contributions: Set aside more during profitable years and reduce savings when revenues are down, so your plan fits your financial situation.
- Roth Options: Choosing a Roth Solo 401(k) lets you pay taxes on contributions now, so you can withdraw without tax penalties in the future—a wise move if you believe your tax rate is likely to rise in the future.
Save Money on Taxes
Retirement plans for self-employed individuals provide significant tax benefits:
- Tax-Deductible Contributions: Contributions to a SIMPLE IRA shrink your tax liability, helping you keep more of your earnings.
- Tax-Deferred Growth: You won't pay taxes on investment growth until you withdraw it, which gives your money more time to compound.
- State-Specific Incentives: In some states, you may be eligible for additional deductions as a sole proprietor. These regional incentives can make these plans even more advantageous.
- Retirement Savings Contributions Credit (Saver’s Credit): Qualified participants can apply for a credit of up to 50% of the first $2,000 put into a retirement plan, further reducing your tax bill even more.
Protect Your Savings With Smart Investments
Creating a stable future requires more than how much you save—it’s also linked to the way you invest:
- Diversified Portfolios: Distributing your investments across varied stocks, bonds, and other assets can help reduce risk while continuing to build your nest egg.
- Emergency Back-Up: Pairing your retirement plan with a business emergency fund helps you avoid dipping into savings during challenging periods and incurring penalties.
Plan for the Future of Your Oceanside, CA Business
Preparing for retirement can assist you prepare for what’s next with your Oceanside, CA business:
- Selling Your Business: For those considering a sale, plans like SEP IRAs or Solo 401(k)s stay in your name and won’t be included in the sale. These plans can provide the reliable income you’ll need in the future. Remember that while selling a business often leads to a capital gain, contributions to retirement accounts are subject to yearly maximums (e.g., up to $7,000 for IRAs or as much as $70,000 for Solo 401(k)s, factoring in catch-up contributions, depending on plan details).
- Minimizing Taxes: Strategically planning your contributions minimizes the taxes you are required to pay when you pass on your business.
- Succession Planning: Whether you’re transferring ownership, your retirement savings offer financial security during the change. You can also seek advice from a financial advisor who specializes in succession planning and retirement accounts to reduce taxes during the sale.
With the proper savings strategy, you manage your financial future, reduce your tax burden, and create a strong framework for both your retirement and your business goals.
Why Start a Self-Employed Retirement Plan in Oceanside, CA Now?
There’s no denying that time is one of the most crucial assets when it comes to saving for retirement. Starting early not only helps you grow a more substantial retirement fund but also lowers the financial burden of saving aggressively in the future. The following are reasons why it makes sense to begin today:
The Cost of Waiting
Delaying your retirement savings can have a major impact on the total you’ll have when you retire. The biggest reason is compound interest—the powerful process where your investments earn returns, and those returns, subsequently, generate even more returns. The more time your money has to grow, the larger the effect of this compounding process.
Example: Alex and Taylor are both self-employed professionals. Their shared goal is to save $500,000 for retirement by age 65:
- Alex starts saving $5,000 annually at age 30.
- Taylor waits until age 40 but saves $7,500 annually to make up for lost time.
By age 65, using a projected 7% annual return:
- Alex contributes $180,000 and achieves a total of $691,184.39*.
- Taylor contributes $195,500 but accumulates just $474,367.78*.
How Early Contributions Grow
Even modest contributions invested steadily often create significant growth. Here’s a simple scenario showing the impact of compound interest:
- Starting at age 25: If you invest $200 per month in a retirement plan with an expected yearly growth rate of 7%, you’ll grow to approximately $497,303.29* by age 65.
- Starting at age 35: Contributing the same $200 per month leaves you with only $235,412.97* by age 65—a difference of over $260,000, just from a 10-year delay.
The earlier you begin, the less you need to save each year to meet your retirement goals.
*The figures provided in this example are based on estimates generated with NerdWallet’s Compound Interest Calculator, based on a 7% annual return. These calculations involved multiplying yearly deposits by the years contributed. This information is for illustrative purposes only and are not a promise of future results. Actual results may vary depending on factors such as market conditions, fees, and individual circumstances. We recommend consulting a financial advisor for personalized advice.
Take Control of Your Financial Future
For self-employed individuals in Oceanside, CA, it is often the case that you prioritize reinvesting in your business instead of saving for retirement. Even so, starting a plan now allows you to:
- Take advantage of tax-free future growth or tax-free withdrawals down the road.
- Benefit from flexible contributions that align with your cash flow.
- Build a safety net that offers peace of mind, no matter how your business evolves.
The sooner you start, the less you’ll need to worry about playing catch-up later in life. Saving for retirement now means managing your financial future and giving yourself the opportunity to concentrate on your goals—both for your future retirement and your Oceanside, CA business.
Types of Self-Employed Retirement Plans
A variety of retirement savings options designed for entrepreneurs in Oceanside, CA, each providing its own pros and cons. A financial advisor is available to help you evaluate the benefits and drawbacks of each option and choose the one most suitable for your needs. Typically, your self-employed retirement plan options in Oceanside, CA are:
Traditional or Roth IRA
Plan Overview: IRAs, or Individual Retirement Accounts, are financial tools for retirement that provide key tax perks. In a conventional IRA, you can usually deduct your contributions from taxable income, and returns grow free of current taxes, but withdrawals in retirement are subject to income tax. In contrast, Roth IRAs require contributions from post-tax earnings, but retirement withdrawals that qualify, including earnings, are tax-free. In both types of accounts, withdrawals are penalty-free provided you are at least 59½.
Eligibility: Unlike 401(k)s, which are employer-sponsored, IRAs, including traditional and Roth options are accessible for individuals with a source of income.
Contribution Limits: For 2025, annual contribution limits for IRAs remain $7,000, or $8,000 if you qualify for catch-up contributions.
Simplified Employee Pension Plan (SEP IRA)
Plan Overview: A Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) IRA is a retirement plan that enables self-employed individuals to save a percentage of their net business profits. Contributions must come from an employer, so, as a sole proprietor, you (the employee) cannot make additional contributions above the 25% you (the employer) have designated. If you have employees, you are obligated to contribute the same amount for them as you do for yourself. You have the flexibility to contribute a flat-dollar amount or a percentage of wages to employee accounts. A SEP IRA works well for businesses that experience cycles of high revenue and low revenue. Unlike other plans, SEP IRAs are free of the high fees associated with starting or maintaining other plans.
SEPs function like traditional IRAs, where contributions are made with pre-tax money and money withdrawn is subject to income tax.
Eligibility: Employers of any type, including self-employed individuals can establish a SEP.
Contribution Limits: Contribution limits for employees in a SEP IRA are capped at the lower of:
- 25% of compensation, or
- $70,000 for 2025
For self-employed individuals, the allowable contribution is based on a special calculation.
Solo 401(k)
Plan Overview: Solo 401(k)s, also called an Individual 401(k) or one-participant 401(k) plan, is a retirement savings plan meant for businesses with no employees or when the sole employee is your spouse. Solo 401(k)s function similarly to employer-sponsored 401(k) plans, and enable contributions as both an employee or an employer with pre-tax money. This offers more savings compared to SEPs or IRAs; however, the increased savings potential can be balanced by more limited investment options. With this type of plan, you can make either traditional or Roth deferrals, which offer the same tax benefits as their IRA contribution counterparts.
Eligibility: Solo 401(k)s are available solely to business owners and their spouses may establish and contribute to a solo 401(k).
Contribution Limits: If you are self-employed with a solo 401(k) plan, you have the ability to make two types of contributions:
- Employee contributions of up to 100% of your self-employment income, subject to the annual contribution limit. The contribution limits for 2025 include $23,500, or $31,000 for those aged 50 and above, or $34,750 for those who turn 60-63 in 2025.
- Contributions as an employer (as an employer) must not surpass 25% of your net self-employment income, which is defined as net profit minus half of your self-employment tax and the elective deferrals you made.
Total contributions are capped at $70,000, or $77,500 for those aged 50 and older (in 2025), $81,250 if you attain age 60-63 in 2025.
Individual Defined Benefit Plan
Plan Overview: The defined benefit plan is a retirement option that provides a set amount to business owners upon retirement. As opposed to defined contribution plans, a defined benefit plan doesn't fluctuate based on investment returns, but allows self-employed individuals to know the precise amount they'll get in retirement. This strategy is recommended for wealthier self-employed individuals who want to save a large amount for retirement and are willing to make larger deposits. Contributions are tax deferred, and withdrawals are taxable as income during retirement.
Eligibility: Entrepreneurs operating a solo business or with less than five employees are eligible to open an individual defined benefit plan, but it's most commonly advised for people above age 50 who earn at least $250,000 a year. Typically, good candidates for defined benefit plans are:
- Business owners or partners who want to invest more than $70,000 (or $77,500 for those aged 50+)
- Companies already contributing 3-4% with plans to contribute more
- Companies with proven consistent profit patterns
- Partners or owners over age 40 who wish to accelerate savings or accelerate the retirement savings
Contribution Limits: The maximum allowable contribution requires calculation from an actuary using your financial situation, age, and savings targets. Allowable contributions are updated yearly.
The Importance of a Financial Advisor in Oceanside, CA for Your Self-Employed Retirement Plan
Working with a financial advisor in Oceanside, CA focused on self-employed retirement strategies can be an essential partner for self-employed individuals. They bring the skills needed to understand the intricacies of saving for retirement and craft a tailored strategy that matches your objectives. Your advisor in Oceanside, CA will review your finances, understand your risk tolerance, and guide you in making informed decisions about saving and investing for retirement. A key part of what we do for you includes:
- Assist in selecting a plan that best fits your needs and goals
- Tailor the plan to your specific situation even further
- Formalize a plan in writing that complies with IRS regulations
- Arrange a trust plan for assets
- Ensure you comprehend the plan's terms
- Review and modify your plan when necessary
- Offer continued financial education and guidance throughout your retirement planning process
- Boost your retirement earnings by optimizing your social security benefits
Self-Employed Retirement Plans in Oceanside, CA: Correct Capital's Process
Entrepreneurs in Oceanside, CA who lack the time, interest, or knowledge to manage their retirement savings strategy themselves can become overwhelmed by their available plans. With Correct Capital, our Oceanside, CA financial advisors manage the bulk of your savings plan setup for you, working to make meeting your financial objectives as straightforward as possible for you. We can help you get set up your self-employed retirement plan in just four steps:
- Schedule a Call: In just 20 minutes, a member of our advisor team can help understand if we're suited to your needs for you and your business. This initial call allows us to learn about your needs with zero commitment or major time investment on your part.
- Gather Information: Should we agree to proceed, we'll gather information, including how many employees you have (if any), your existing financial picture, and your future objectives. This helps us create a custom plan that aligns with your goals.
- Review Your Plan: Once we've developed a plan using the information you provide, we'll sit down with you and review your plan in detail to make sure it's clear and explain its fit to your circumstances.
- Implementation and Monitoring: Once we've agreed on your plan, we'll implement the necessary steps so you can start saving. Over the course of our partnership, we'll have regular meetings and monitor your plan to keep it tailored to your evolving circumstances.
Our Oceanside, CA financial advisors and retirement plan consultants are fiduciary advisors, who are obligated to they are committed by law and ethics to do what's in your best interest.
Other financial advisory services we offer in Oceanside, CA include:
- 401(k) Audit
- High-Net-Worth Wealth Management
- Retirement Planner
- Financial Planning
- Retirement Plan Consultants
- Fiduciary Financial Advisor
Call Correct Capital for Your Self-Employed Retirement Plan in Oceanside, CA
You don't see your business as "just a business", and your Oceanside, CA financial advisors must deliver more than just good financial guidance. At Correct Capital, we make it a priority to understand our clients and their businesses to deliver customized self-employed retirement plans. All our clients in Oceanside, CA benefit from our I.O.U. promise: all of the advice you get from us will be independent, objective, and unbiased. To begin on your self-employment retirement plan, reach out to Correct Capital at 877-930-401k or contact us online.