If you’re self-employed or working part time, your path to retirement likely looks different than the plan of someone in a traditional 9-to-5. Without built-in benefits or an employer-sponsored retirement plan, it’s up to you to create your own safety net.

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These four steps can help you build a stronger foundation and plan with more confidence, no matter how unconventional your workweek looks.

Also see three essential tips for a winning retirement savings plan.

“With ‘traditional’ retirement planning, typically there is a built-in retirement savings vehicle and automated savings in the form of a 401(k),” Christine Lam, CFP, ChSNC, investment advisor representative at Financial Investment Team, wrote in an email.

Not all employers offer 401(k) options to part-time employees, but Lam pointed out that the rules around this have changed due to the Secure 2.0 Act.

“If an employer does not offer 401(k) benefits to part-time employees, then it is the responsibility of the individual to set aside money for retirement,” Lam explained. That means opening up a retirement savings account and making regular contributions.

According to Lam, traditional IRAs or Roth IRAs offer the most flexibility for freelancers and self-employed individuals, as the only requirement is for individuals to have earned income. Other options include a solo 401(k) or SEP IRA.

“It is equally important to set up an automatic savings schedule to max out these plans since deferrals are not being deducted automatically from a paycheck as a traditional 401(k) plan would do,” Lam advised.

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In most cases, full-time employees also have access to insurance benefits, including health insurance, disability and life insurance.

“As a part-time worker, you may need to budget for private health insurance (which can be costly) and secure your own disability and life insurance policies, which are an added expenditure,” Lam explained.

Because these costs can add up, she recommended having a detailed budget of monthly expenses.

As of May 2025, the average monthly benefit amount for retired workers was $2,002, but working part time can result in lower lifetime earnings, and ultimately, a smaller Social Security check in retirement.