No 401(k)? No Problem—Smart Retirement Strategies for the Self-Employed

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When you’re self-employed, you gain flexibility, freedom, and control over your income—but you also lose something many full-time employees take for granted: access to employer-sponsored retirement plans like a 401(k) or pension. That means no automatic contributions, employer match, or built-in structure to help you plan for the future.

Unfortunately, this gap leaves a lot of entrepreneurs, freelancers, and gig workers falling behind on long-term retirement savings. And with the rising cost of living and inconsistent income streams, it’s easy to push retirement planning to the back burner.

The good news? There are still powerful ways to invest for the future—many of which offer even more control and flexibility than traditional retirement plans. 

Here, we’ll explore the top retirement investing options for self-employed individuals, including how a platform that offers fractional investing is making it easier than ever to start building long-term wealth through real estate.

Traditional Retirement Plans—What Employees Get

For most W-2 employees, retirement planning is baked into the job. Contribute to your 401(k), collect the employer match, and let your investments grow in a tax-advantaged account. It’s a system that runs on autopilot—and for many people, it works well enough.

In addition to 401(k)s, some employees may also have access to pensions (though these are becoming increasingly rare) or profit-sharing plans. Contributions are often pulled straight from paychecks, and companies typically partner with large financial institutions to manage the investment side of things. This kind of structure removes a lot of the friction. There’s no need to research account types, find custodians, or navigate IRS contribution limits on your own. 

But for the self-employed, none of that infrastructure exists—that’s where the real challenge begins.

The Self-Employed Investor’s Dilemma

If you’re self-employed, you’re already wearing multiple hats—operator, marketer, accountant, and more. Adding “retirement planner” to the list can feel overwhelming, especially when there’s no built-in system to guide you. 

Unlike traditional employees, self-employed individuals don’t get a 401(k) match or automatic paycheck deductions. Retirement planning is 100% self-directed, which requires both financial discipline and a deeper understanding of investment options. On top of that, income can be irregular—making it hard to commit to consistent monthly contributions or long-term savings goals. 

And then there’s the tax angle. Without the right retirement accounts in place, self-employed individuals can end up paying more in taxes than they need to—missing out on valuable deductions or tax-deferred growth opportunities.

The bottom line: Investing for retirement when you’re self-employed takes intentional effort. But the trade-off is flexibility and control—and with the right tools, it can actually be a more personalized and powerful path to financial independence.

Retirement Investment Options for the Self-Employed

Just because you don’t have access to a 401(k) doesn’t mean you’re out of options. In fact, self-employed individuals often have more flexibility to design a retirement strategy that fits their lifestyle and goals. 

Let’s look at some of the best ways to invest for retirement when you’re working for yourself.

Option 1: Self-directed retirement accounts

Self-directed retirement accounts—like a self-directed IRA or solo 401(k)—are powerful tools for the self-employed. Unlike traditional retirement accounts that limit you to stocks, bonds, and mutual funds, these accounts allow you to invest in a broader range of assets, including:

• Real estate
• Private equity
• Tax liens
• Precious metals
• Cryptocurrency

You still get the tax advantages of a regular IRA or 401(k), but with far more control over how your money is invested. For example, with a self-directed Roth IRA, your investments grow tax-free, and qualified withdrawals in retirement are completely tax-exempt.

There are also SEP IRAs and solo 401(k)s, which allow much higher contribution limits than standard IRAs—great if you’re earning strong self-employment income and want to reduce your tax liability while building wealth.

While these accounts do require setup through a specialized custodian and a bit more paperwork, they open the door to strategies that traditional investors can’t access.

Option 2: Fractional real estate investing 

Your retirement account should work quietly in the background—growing, compounding, and never demanding your time. But traditional real estate investing is anything but passive. That’s where fractional platforms like Realbricks come in. They let you own income-producing properties passively—without the headaches of being a landlord.

• Start investing with as little as $100.
• Earn passive income from rental properties.
• Avoid the hassles of property management.
• Diversify across multiple markets.
• Potentially hold investments within a self-directed IRA 
• Sell shares through a secondary marketplace once properties become fully funded, offering rare liquidity for real estate.

As a self-employed person, you likely don’t have the time (or desire) to handle tenant issues, maintenance, or property taxes. Realbricks removes all that, letting you enjoy the benefits of real estate ownership—like long-term appreciation and rental income—without the burden of doing it yourself. It’s the best of both worlds: passive income today and long-term wealth for tomorrow.

When you’re self-employed, your retirement strategy needs to work for you—not the other way around. It needs to be flexible, low-maintenance, and accessible, no matter how much capital you have or how busy your schedule gets. That’s exactly where Realbricks stands out.

Unlike traditional real estate, you don’t need to save for a massive down payment or qualify for a mortgage. And unlike the stock market, your investment is backed by tangible assets that generate consistent rental income. With Realbricks, you’re not speculating—you’re earning while your portfolio grows.

Here’s a quick recap of what makes Realbricks so valuable for the self-employed:

• Low minimum investment makes it easy to start small and scale over time.
• No property management means zero stress about tenants, maintenance, or local laws.
• Quarterly dividend payouts provide steady passive income.
• IRA compatibility allows you to pair Realbricks with a self-directed retirement account.
• Built-in diversification across multiple properties.
• Liquidity through a secondary market gives you options if your financial needs change.

It’s real estate on your terms—passive, flexible, and designed to help you build retirement wealth without sacrificing your time or sanity. Learn more about Realbricks. 

Option 3: Traditional brokerage accounts

If you’ve already maxed out your tax-advantaged accounts—or want maximum flexibility—a traditional brokerage account is another solid option. With no contribution limits or early withdrawal penalties, these accounts give you full access to the public markets: stocks, ETFs, index funds, REITs, and more. 

The downside? You’ll pay capital gains taxes on your investment earnings, and there’s no tax deferral or deduction like with IRAs or 401(k)s. Still, these accounts are simple to open, easy to manage, and great for building long-term wealth alongside other retirement vehicles.

For the self-employed, brokerage accounts offer a way to stay invested without needing to jump through regulatory hoops or commit to retirement-specific restrictions. They’re especially useful if you’re planning for early retirement or want access to your funds before age 59½.

Option 4: Traditional real estate ownership

Buying a rental property is a time-tested retirement strategy—and it’s one many investors aspire to. The idea of collecting cash flow while your property appreciates over time is appealing. 

But for the self-employed, it’s not always realistic. Rental properties require a substantial down payment, financing approval, and ongoing management. Between tenant issues, unexpected repairs, and local regulations, managing a property can feel like a full-time job—on top of the one you already have. 

That’s not to say it’s a bad idea. For those who have the time, capital, and risk tolerance, direct ownership can be a powerful wealth builder. But for many self-employed people juggling inconsistent income and business demands, platforms like Realbricks offer a far more manageable way to gain real estate exposure without the hands-on hassle.

Retirement Planning Doesn’t Have to Be Complicated—Even Without a 401(k)

Being self-employed comes with a lot of freedom—but when it comes to retirement planning, that freedom can quickly turn into confusion. Without an employer guiding the way, you must build your own plan for long-term wealth—and the good news is, there are more ways than ever to do it.

Whether you open a self-directed IRA, invest through a brokerage account, or buy a rental property, the key is to start. And if you’re looking for something simple, affordable, and low-maintenance? Realbricks is one of the best ways to begin. It gives you access to real estate—one of the most proven wealth-building tools in history—without the traditional barriers of cost, complexity, or commitment.

Retirement might look different when you’re self-employed, but it doesn’t have to be out of reach. With the right strategy and tools like Realbricks, you can take control of your future and start building the kind of freedom you went into business for in the first place.

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