 VANGUARD |
 ASCENSUS |
ASCENSUS |
ASCENSUS |
|
Plan sponsors and participants |
Individuals who are self-employed or earn freelance income, and don't employ others, who want to establish a retirement account for themselves. |
Self-employed individuals or businesses with no common-law employees that want to maximize tax deferrals, including those interested in a Roth option. |
Self-employed individuals or businesses that have 100 or fewer employees and want to encourage employee contributions and provide an annual employer contribution. |
Small businesses that want to provide a retirement benefit to all employees (including the business owners) solely through employer contributions. |
Contributions |
Employee: None. |
Employee: Up to $23,500 for 2025 or $23,000 for 2024, not to exceed 100% of compensation. Roth contributions are accepted. |
Employee: Up to $16,500 for 2025, not to exceed 100% of compensation. |
Employee: None. |
|
Employer: Up to 25% of the employee's compensation or $70,000 for 2025 or $69,000 for 2024, whichever is less. Self-employed individuals must calculate their maximum contribution using the rate table or worksheets in Chapter 5 of IRS Publication 560 (PDF) Retirement Plans for Small Business, or see a tax advisor. |
Employer: Up to 25% of the employee’s compensation, not to exceed $70,000 for 2025 or $69,000 for 2024. $70,000 for 2025 $69,000 for 2024
Catch-up contributions: An employee aged 50-59 or 64 or older can contribute an additional $7,500. Those aged 60-63 can contribute an additional $11,250. |
Employer: Match up to 3% of employee's compensation — or — An annual nonelective contribution of 2% of each eligible employee's compensation. Catch-up contributions: An employee age 50-59 or 64 or older can contribute an additional $3,500. Those age 60-63 can contribute an additional $5,250. SECURE 2.0 permits eligible employers to provide additional contribution options. Please see a qualified tax advisor for more information. |
Employer: Up to 25% of the employee's compensation or $70,000 for 2025 or $69,000 for 2024, whichever is less.1 |
Investment choices |
Any publicly traded asset including Vanguard mutual funds and ETFs, as well as additional brokerage options. |
You'll have access to a diverse lineup of Vanguard mutual funds.
|
You'll have access to a diverse lineup of Vanguard mutual funds. |
You'll have access to a diverse lineup of Vanguard mutual funds. |
Fees |
No plan setup fee. For more information see Vanguard annual account service fees. |
|||
Filing requirements |
Doesn't require IRS filing. |
Requires IRS filing. |
Doesn't require IRS filing. |
Doesn’t require IRS filing. |
Small-business retirement plan |
Vanguard is only responsible for content on our own website.
1Self-employed individuals must calculate their maximum contribution using the rate table or worksheets in Chapter 5 of IRS Publication 560 (PDF) Retirement Plans for Small Business, or see a tax advisor.
All investing is subject to risk, including the possible loss of the money you invest.
Ascensus, LLC provides administrative and recordkeeping services. It is not a broker-dealer or an investment advisor and does not provide tax, legal, or accounting services. Ascensus® and the Ascensus logo are trademarks of Ascensus, LLC. Individual(k) is a trademark of Ascensus, LLC. © 2024 Ascensus, LLC. All Rights Reserved.