🔍 Carry 401k Review: Pros, Cons & Is It Worth It? (2025)

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• Carry Features and Benefits

• Pros and Cons of Carry Solo 401(k)

• Carry’s User Experience

• Is Carry Safe?

• Who Should Use Carry?

• Carry vs. Other Solo 401(k) Providers

• What’s Coming Soon to Carry?

  • Self-employed and considering a Solo 401(k)?

  • FAQ: Carry and Solo 401(k) Plans

  • Comprehensive Investing Glossary

Self-employed and considering a Solo 401(k)?

Get $100 off your Carry account fee when you sign up using the link below 👇

Self-employed and considering a Solo 401(k)?

Get $100 off your Carry account fee when you sign up using the link below 👇

FAQ: Carry and Solo 401(k) Plans

Question: What is Carry?
Answer: Carry is a modern fintech platform that helps self-employed individuals and small business owners set up and manage Solo 401(k) retirement plans. It simplifies setup, handles IRS compliance, and lets you invest using your preferred brokerage—all without AUM fees.

Question: Who qualifies for a Solo 401(k)?
Answer: Solo 401(k)s are available to self-employed individuals or small business owners with no full-time employees, other than a spouse. This includes freelancers, consultants, side hustlers, and business owners of LLCs, S-Corps, and C-Corps.

Question: What makes Carry different from other Solo 401(k) providers?
Answer: Carry offers a streamlined digital setup, no AUM fees, full control over investments via your brokerage of choice (like Fidelity or Schwab), Roth and Mega Backdoor Roth support, and built-in IRS compliance, including automated 5500-EZ filing.

Question: Can I invest my Solo 401(k) funds through Fidelity or Schwab?
Answer: Yes. Carry helps you open a brokerage account at your preferred institution (e.g., Fidelity, Schwab, TD Ameritrade) and links it to your Solo 401(k), giving you full control over your investments.

Question: Does Carry support Roth Solo 401(k) contributions?
Answer: Yes. Carry supports Roth employee contributions and in-plan Roth rollovers, including the Mega Backdoor Roth strategy, allowing for tax-free growth potential.

Question: How much can I contribute to a Solo 401(k)?
Answer: For 2025, you can contribute up to $23,000 as an employee ($30,500 if age 50+) and up to 25% of your net self-employment income as an employer. Combined, you can contribute up to $69,000 ($76,500 if 50 or older). Carry helps calculate your limits.

Question: Does Carry help with IRS filings?
Answer: Yes. Carry handles IRS Form 5500-EZ automatically once your Solo 401(k) reaches $250,000 in assets, helping you stay compliant with minimal effort.

Question: Can I roll over an old 401(k) or IRA into a Carry Solo 401(k)?
Answer: Yes. You can roll over funds from traditional IRAs or old employer 401(k) plans into your Carry-managed Solo 401(k), consolidating your retirement savings under one plan.

Question: How much does Carry cost?
Answer: Carry charges a flat annual fee starting at $299/year. There are no AUM or hidden fees. New users can get $100 off their first year with a referral link.

Question: Is Carry secure?
Answer: Yes. Your funds are held at established brokerages like Fidelity or Schwab, which are SIPC- or FDIC-insured. Carry itself does not custody your assets—it manages the plan setup and compliance.

Question: What business types does Carry support?
Answer: Carry supports sole proprietorships, single-member LLCs, multi-member LLCs (with one active participant), S-Corps, and C-Corps. The platform guides you through the correct setup based on your structure.

Question: Can my spouse participate in my Solo 401(k)?
Answer: Yes. If your spouse earns income from your business, they can be added to the Solo 401(k) plan and make their own contributions, effectively doubling your household’s contribution potential.

Comprehensive Investing Glossary

401(k)
A retirement savings account offered by employers that lets employees invest a portion of their paycheck before taxes are taken out. Taxes are paid upon withdrawal.

Asset Allocation
How your investments are divided among different asset classes like stocks, bonds, and cash. A balanced allocation helps manage risk and return.

Asset Class
A group of similar investments. The main asset classes are equities (stocks), fixed income (bonds), real estate, and cash or cash equivalents.

Bear Market
A market condition where prices fall 20% or more from recent highs. Usually signals widespread pessimism.

Bull Market
A market condition marked by rising prices and investor optimism, typically after gains of 20% or more from recent lows.

Bond
A loan made by an investor to a borrower (typically a corporation or government). The borrower pays back the principal with interest over time.

Brokerage Account
An investment account you open through a financial firm to buy and sell stocks, ETFs, bonds, and other assets.

Capital Gains
The profit from selling an asset for more than you paid for it. Capital gains can be short-term (held under 1 year) or long-term (over 1 year), each taxed differently.

Compound Interest
Interest earned on both the original principal and any interest already added. It's how money grows faster over time.

Cryptocurrency
A digital or virtual currency (like Bitcoin or Ethereum) that uses cryptography for security and operates independently of a central bank.

Diversification
Spreading investments across different asset types or industries to reduce risk. A key principle of smart investing.

Dividend
A portion of a company’s earnings paid to shareholders, typically on a regular basis. Not all stocks pay dividends.

Dollar-Cost Averaging (DCA)
An investing strategy where you invest a fixed amount of money at regular intervals, regardless of market conditions, helping reduce the impact of volatility.

ETF (Exchange-Traded Fund)
A basket of securities that trades on a stock exchange. ETFs offer diversification like mutual funds but can be bought and sold like individual stocks.

Expense Ratio
The annual fee charged by a fund to manage your investments, expressed as a percentage of assets. Lower is generally better.

Fiduciary
A financial advisor or institution that is legally obligated to act in your best financial interest.

Index Fund
A type of mutual fund or ETF that aims to match the performance of a specific index, like the S&P 500. Known for low costs and broad diversification.

Inflation
The rate at which prices increase over time, reducing the purchasing power of your money. Inflation is why investing is important for long-term goals.

IRA (Individual Retirement Account)
A personal retirement account with tax advantages. Traditional IRAs are tax-deferred, while Roth IRAs are funded with after-tax dollars and grow tax-free.

Liquidity
How quickly and easily an asset can be converted into cash without significantly affecting its price. Stocks are highly liquid; real estate is not.

Market Capitalization (Market Cap)
The total value of a company’s outstanding shares. It's calculated by multiplying the stock price by the number of shares. Companies are classified as small-cap, mid-cap, or large-cap based on this.

Mutual Fund
A professionally managed investment fund that pools money from many investors to buy a diversified portfolio of stocks, bonds, or other assets.

Net Worth
Your total assets minus your total liabilities. It’s a snapshot of your financial health.

P/E Ratio (Price-to-Earnings Ratio)
A valuation metric that compares a company's share price to its earnings per share. A high P/E may mean a stock is overvalued or growing fast.

Portfolio
Your collection of investments (stocks, bonds, ETFs, etc.). A well-diversified portfolio reduces risk.

Rebalancing
Adjusting your portfolio back to your target asset allocation by buying or selling investments. Helps manage risk over time.

REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust)
A company that owns income-producing real estate and pays out most of its profits to shareholders as dividends. Offers real estate exposure without owning physical property.

Robo-Advisor
An automated investing platform that builds and manages a portfolio based on your goals and risk tolerance—usually for low fees.

Risk Tolerance
How much risk or market fluctuation you're comfortable taking on in your investments. Influences your asset allocation.

Roth IRA
A retirement account where you contribute after-tax money, but withdrawals are tax-free in retirement (if certain conditions are met).

S&P 500
An index of 500 large U.S. companies used to gauge overall stock market performance. Often used as a benchmark.

Stock
A share of ownership in a company. Stocks can generate returns through price increases and dividends.

Solo 401(k)
A retirement plan for self-employed individuals or small business owners with no full-time employees. Allows for high contribution limits and both traditional and Roth options.

Tax-Advantaged Account
Any account (like a 401(k), IRA, or HSA) that offers tax benefits to help you save for specific goals, such as retirement or healthcare.

Ticker Symbol
A unique series of letters assigned to a publicly traded stock or ETF (e.g., AAPL for Apple).

Traditional IRA
A retirement account where contributions may be tax-deductible, and investment earnings grow tax-deferred until withdrawal.

Volatility
How much an asset’s price moves up or down over a period of time. Higher volatility means more risk—but also more potential reward.

Yield
The income return on an investment, usually expressed as a percentage. For stocks, it's based on dividends; for bonds, it’s based on interest payments.

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_{Important Disclosures:}

_{This newsletter is intended for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as investment, legal, or tax advice. The views and opinions expressed are those of the author alone and do not necessarily represent the views of any business, employer, or affiliated entity. Investing carries inherent risks, including the possible loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research and seek advice from qualified professionals before making any investment, legal, or financial decisions. While the information provided is believed to be accurate, no guarantee is made as to its completeness or reliability. The author and publisher disclaim any liability for decisions made or actions taken based on the content of this newsletter. This publication does not constitute an offer to buy or sell any security. By subscribing to or continuing to read this newsletter, you acknowledge and agree to these terms and conditions.}