Real Estate Agents: See How a Solo 401(k) Could Reduce Your 2026 Taxable Income and Put More of Your Commissions to Work
In under eight minutes, learn who qualifies, how employee and employer contributions work, and how retirement funds may be invested in real estate.
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If you qualify and move forward, receive a $100 credit toward the $1,200 setup fee.
What Survival 401k does
- Plan documents prepared for one-participant 401(k) plans
- Traditional and designated Roth contribution options
- Self-directed features supported by the plan document
- Plan accounts held at banks or other financial institutions
- Ongoing administrative and Form 5500-EZ support
Three Things Worth Understanding
Two contribution roles, one business
As a self-employed agent or broker you may contribute as both employee and employer. For 2026 the elective deferral limit is $24,500 and the overall defined-contribution limit is $72,000 before catch-up. Catch-up is generally $8,000 at age 50+, and $11,250 for ages 60 to 63. Your actual capacity depends on age, eligible earned income, entity and tax structure, other plan participation, and applicable rules.
Pretax or Roth, your choice
Pretax contributions generally defer current income taxation. Designated Roth contributions are made after tax, and qualified distributions may be tax-free. Which mix makes sense depends on your situation and should be reviewed with your tax professional.
Real estate is an available option
A qualified plan may invest in real property and other alternative assets when the plan document and the chosen account structure support it. Prohibited-transaction and party-in-interest rules always apply.
“I built Survival 401k specifically to serve the self-employed community that the big institutions ignore.”
Survival 401k, LLC is based in San Antonio, Texas and works with self-employed professionals nationwide. We prepare the plan document and provide ongoing administrative and compliance support, so you can serve as trustee of your own plan while your tax and legal advisors weigh in on your specific situation.
Three Simple Steps
- 1
Request your free consultation
Share your name and email. We reach out to schedule your free 30-minute consultation at a time that works for you.
- 2
Talk through eligibility and numbers
We look at your entity type, eligible earned income, and any employees, then explain how employee and employer contributions would be calculated in your case.
- 3
Decide with no pressure
If a Solo 401(k) fits, we prepare the plan document and handle ongoing administrative support. If it does not fit, we tell you that too.
Who a One-Participant 401(k) Is Generally For
Use this as a starting point, not a determination. Eligibility depends on your facts and applicable rules.
- You have self-employment or commission income from an active trade or business, such as an independent agent, broker, flipper, or investor with earned income.
- A one-participant plan generally covers a business owner, or an owner and their spouse, with no eligible common-law employees.
- Your spouse may participate if they receive eligible compensation from the same business. Other common-law employees who meet the plan's eligibility rules would generally have to be covered, which usually takes a business outside one-participant plan territory.
- Controlled-group and affiliated-service-group rules can pull in employees of related businesses you own, so ownership of other entities matters.
- Rental income alone is generally not eligible earned income for contributions, though a plan may still invest in real property.
- Which self-directed features are available depends on the plan document and the account structure you choose.
What It Costs
One-time plan setup
Plan document preparation and setup guidance.
Per year
Ongoing administrative and compliance support.
What's included
- A one-participant 401(k) plan document prepared for your business structure, including traditional and designated Roth options.
- Guidance on your role as trustee and plan administrator, and on which self-directed features your plan document supports.
- Support for contributions, participant loan provisions where the plan allows them, and rollovers from eligible accounts.
- Ongoing administrative and compliance support, including help with annual Form 5500-EZ filing requirements when they apply.
If you qualify and choose Survival 401K, receive a $100 credit and pay $1,100 instead of $1,200 for plan setup. Ongoing administrative and compliance support stays $200 per year.
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Five Things People Ask
Find Out Whether a Solo 401(k) Fits Your Business
The consultation is free, takes about 30 minutes, and comes with no obligation. You will leave with a clearer picture of whether you qualify and how contributions would be calculated in your situation. If you qualify and choose Survival 401K, a $100 credit applies to the $1,200 setup fee. 2026 contributions must come from 2026 eligible earned income.
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Or call (833) 224-5517 to talk with our team directly.
Prefer to keep learning?
The Autonomous Investor Blueprint
A plain-English guide covering how one-participant 401(k) plans compare with other retirement options for real estate professionals. Educational only.