The Knowledge Blog

You're busy invoicing, not studying ETFs. A target-date fund is the one-fund retirement plan for freelancers: buy once, automate the deposits, and let time do the heavy lifting.

That 1% annual advisor fee doesn't sound like much. But on a $630,000 portfolio over 17 years, it quietly drains nearly $480,000 from your retirement — while the same money in a low-cost index fund does none of that. Here's what the financial industry would prefer you never actually calculate.

The income tax system works like a layer cake, not a cliff. Understand the 2026 federal tax brackets, how your freelance income flows to taxable income, and how Solo 401(k) and HSA contributions slice off the most expensive layers.

Freelancers can shelter up to $96,250 in 2026 using three tax-advantaged accounts. Learn which to open first and how much you can contribute.

How much emergency fund do freelancers and self-employed individuals need? Compare HYSA, Treasury ETFs like VBIL, and other options for self-employed workers. State tax savings tips included

The Roth IRA — With simple set-and-forget investing, it’s easy to have around $1 million in retirement.

The Three-Fund Portfolio — Freelancers, it’s pretty much the only investment we need in the stock market. U.S. Stocks, International Stocks, plus Bonds

The stock market is often widely misunderstood due to the hype in the media reporting on short-term market moves. That and the jibba-jabba of your next door neighbor or some guy in a bar. It’s the long term that matters. We need to ignore the noise.

The HSA (Health Savings Account. Make your out-of-pocket medical expenses a sweet tax deduction. The money is always yours; it’s not ‘use it or lose it.’

The Empower Financial Dashboard: the magic crystal ball for freelancers that shows you your whole financial and investment life. And, it's free.

This is called stock picking. Investors try to pick winning companies like Apple and Telsa or some unknown startup. Here is the problem, no one who stock picks will ever beat a three-fund portfolio long term!