Solo 401(k)s For the Self-Employ

What do a 401(k) and a tax deed have in common? Well if you are self-employed and one day want to retire, working with an experienced attorney in forming what’s called a “Solo 401(k)” (also known as a “self-directed Solo 401(k)”) would allow you to invest in alternative assets such as tax deeds, tax liens, private equity, real estate, mortgage notes, personal lending, stock-bond investments, and more.

Solo 401(k)s are qualified retirement plans for self-employed individuals and/or business owners who do not have any employees. They offer both pros and cons: While featuring investor-friendly options and high contribution limits, they also carry strict eligibility requirements, such as some form of self-employment and not carrying any employees whatsoever (other than your spouse).

More on the Benefits

Solo 401(k)s can help you work towards accumulating savings that will be sufficient for your retirement precisely because they feature:

• High contribution limits; for example, allowing you to contribute up to $54,000 in one year (versus $5,500-$6,500 in individual retirement accounts);
• More flexibility when it comes to selecting different types of investments, such as tax liens, tax deeds, real estate, and more;
• The option of a Roth Solo 401(k), which does not feature any income limits and allows you to make higher annual after-tax contributions ($18,000 or $24,000, depending upon your age), allowing your money to grow tax-free; and
• The ability to borrow without having to worry about the loan coming due if your employment changes.

When it comes to self-directed 401(k)s, participants can very literally invest in whatever they wish (unlike the circumstances of traditional brokerage retirement accounts). Some of the most common examples that those with self-directed 401(k)s invest in include real estate (both commercial and residential), rentals, tax liens, foreclosures, and others. They also eliminate the need for a custodian, as is required with IRAs.

The Rules

When it comes to rules and limitations, there are really only two rules for self-directed 401(k)s:

• You cannot invest in collectibles (for example, works of art or cars); and
• The plan forbids you from doing business with particular individuals known as “disqualified persons” (this describes an individual who is providing services to the plan [such as fiduciary services] and engaging in prohibited transactions).
  

An example of engaging in a transaction with a disqualified person would be if the plan participant, for example, purchased a condo and let their son live there. Another prohibited transaction might involve direct or indirect lending of money, such as signing a loan guarantee for the Solo 401(k) plan, or receiving direct or indirect benefits of the plan by purchasing property and charging a management fee.