Our Mission
Welcome to Solo Wealth Lab. We are dedicated to translating complex IRS tax codes and retirement rules into clear, actionable, and automated wealth-building strategies for US-based independent contractors, freelancers, and gig workers.
The traditional financial planning industry was not built for you. It was built for the 9-to-5, bi-weekly-paycheck crowd. Our mission is to fill that gap — with research-backed content, real numbers, and zero corporate fluff. Every article, tool, and guide we publish is designed for the realities of 1099 income: variable earnings, self-employment taxes, and the freedom (and responsibility) of running your own financial life.
We believe that working for yourself should never mean sacrificing your financial future. It should mean the opposite.
The Problem With Traditional Finance
If you earn a 1099 income, traditional retirement advice is fundamentally broken. Standard financial planners build their entire models around predictable, bi-weekly W-2 paychecks and the corporate HR departments that automatically funnel a percentage of each paycheck into a company-matched 401(k).
But when you drive for Uber, consult on Upwork, or run a freelance creative or technical business, your income fluctuates — sometimes dramatically. The “feast or famine” cycle makes standard savings advice feel impossible. According to the IRS Self-Employed Tax Center, self-employed individuals must also pay the full 15.3% self-employment tax, a burden W-2 employees split with their employer.
Worse, gig workers are entirely on their own to navigate:
- SEP IRAs — Simplified Employee Pension plans that allow contributions of up to 25% of net self-employment income, up to $69,000 in 2025
- Solo 401(k)s — which allow both “employee” and “employer” contributions, letting you sock away up to $70,000 in 2025 (or $77,500 if you are 50+)
- SECURE 2.0 Act implications — sweeping legislation that changes catch-up contribution limits, required minimum distribution (RMD) ages, and introduces new incentives that most gig workers have never heard of
Standard financial advice simply does not cover these scenarios in enough depth. That is exactly why Solo Wealth Lab exists.
What We Do
At Solo Wealth Lab, we do not just give generic advice. We act as your personal research lab. Here is exactly how we do it:
1. We Track the Latest IRS Contribution Limits
Contribution limits change every year due to IRS cost-of-living adjustments. We publish updated guides every January so you always know the exact numbers for your SEP IRA, Solo 401(k), SIMPLE IRA, or Health Savings Account (HSA).
2. We Test Automated Savings Apps for Irregular Income
Apps like Qapital, Catch, and Betterment promise to automate savings for freelancers — but do they actually work when your income swings from $2,000 to $12,000 month to month? We test them so you do not have to.
3. We Break Down Your Tax Bill
One of the most powerful wealth-building levers for 1099 earners is the QBI (Qualified Business Income) deduction, which can reduce your taxable income by up to 20%. Combined with a Solo 401(k) or SEP IRA contribution, a freelancer earning $100,000 net could potentially shield $30,000–$40,000 from federal income tax. We show you the math.
4. We Explain SECURE 2.0 in Plain English
The SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 introduced over 90 provisions that affect retirement savers. For the self-employed, the most important changes include new rules around catch-up contributions and the ability to link emergency savings to retirement accounts. We break these down without the legal jargon.
Our Core Values
Everything published on Solo Wealth Lab is guided by three non-negotiable principles:
| Value | What It Means for You |
|---|---|
| 🔬 Research First | Every strategy we recommend is sourced directly from IRS publications, tax code, or verified third-party research. No opinions dressed up as facts. |
| 🎯 1099-Specific | We never recycle generic W-2 retirement advice. Every article is written for the specific realities of irregular, self-employment income. |
| ⚡ Actionable & Automated | Information without action is worthless. We focus on strategies you can implement this week — including tools, calculators, and step-by-step guides — to automate your path to retirement wealth. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Solo Wealth Lab designed for?
Solo Wealth Lab is designed exclusively for US-based 1099 earners — freelancers, independent contractors, consultants, and gig workers on platforms like Uber, Upwork, Fiverr, and Toptal. If you receive a W-2 paycheck from an employer, most of our content still applies but is specifically optimized for irregular, self-employment income.
Is the financial information on Solo Wealth Lab up to date?
Yes. Our team monitors IRS publications and Congressional updates year-round. We update contribution limit articles every January when the IRS publishes new figures, and we flag any articles that require review when major legislation like the SECURE 2.0 Act passes. Always check the “Last Updated” date at the top of any article.
What is the best retirement account for freelancers?
The best retirement account for freelancers depends on your net self-employment income. A Solo 401(k) offers the highest contribution limits — up to $70,000 in 2025 — and allows both employee and employer contributions. A SEP IRA is simpler to set up but limits you to 25% of net self-employment income. Our comparison guides walk through both options with real-dollar examples.
Does Solo Wealth Lab provide personalized financial advice?
No. Solo Wealth Lab is a financial education platform. Our content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute personalized tax, financial, or legal advice. We strongly recommend consulting a qualified CPA or fee-only financial advisor for decisions specific to your situation.
How can I stay updated with new content from Solo Wealth Lab?
Subscribe to our newsletter to get new guides, IRS limit updates, and gig-economy tax tips delivered directly to your inbox. We publish new content weekly and send a monthly digest summarising the most important retirement and tax updates for 1099 workers.
Ready to Build Your 1099 Retirement Plan?
The freelance economy is growing — and so is the opportunity to build serious, tax-advantaged wealth outside of the corporate 401(k) system. At Solo Wealth Lab, we are here to give you the research, tools, and step-by-step strategies to make it happen on your own terms.
Start with our most popular resources: