Only an employer can establish a SEP arrangement. In order to sponsor a SEP, you can either be in business by yourself or have employees. If you have eligible employees, you must fund the SEP on their behalf; i.e., you must make contributions to the SEP plan for your eligible employees. You, as the employer, are also responsible for establishing and maintaining the plan.
The participation requirements for a SEP are generally broader than those for Keogh plans. An eligible employee for a SEP is one who meets these conditions:
IMPORTANT NOTE: Because of the less restrictive participation rules (see above), SEPs are typically less popular for employers than other retirement plans.
Supercharging Your IRA
A SEP is better than an IRA because an IRA allows you to put away only up to $6,000 in 2020($6,000 in 2019). SEPs are IRAs that an employer sets up for its employees as part of a retirement plan. Like a qualified plan, SEPs are subject to overall contribution limitations (similar to a Keogh plan).
Investments are not a deposit or other obligation of, or guaranteed by, the bank, are not FDIC insured, not insured by any federal government agency, and are subject to investment risks, including possible loss of principal.