10 Sources of Emergency Cash, Ranked From Best to Worst

What happens when your emergency cash runs dry—and life keeps happening?

A recent article lays out a ranked list of ten ways to access emergency cash, starting with the best options and ending with the ones you’ll want to avoid unless it’s truly a last resort:

1. Emergency Fund / Short-Term Securities
2. Low-Risk Assets in Taxable Accounts
3. Roth IRA Contributions
4. Life Insurance Cash Values
5. 401(k) Loan
6. Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC)
7. Hardship Withdrawals from 401(k)
8. Reverse Mortgage
9. Margin Loans
10. Credit Cards

The takeaway?

Know your emergency funding hierarchy before a crisis hits. With a plan in place, you’ll be better equipped to make calm, informed decisions when life throws you a curveball.

Resource:

• MorningStar article by Christine Benz: 10 Sources of Emergency Cash, Ranked From Best to Worst
• Christine Benz’s book - How to Retire: 20 Lessons for a Happy, Successful, and Wealthy Retirement https://a.co/d/3rZ3JgF

Connect with Benjamin Brandt

• Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit: http://retirementstartstodayradio.com
• Subscribe to the newsletter: https://retirementstartstodayradio.com/newsletter
• Work with Benjamin: https://retirementstartstoday.com/start

Get the book!
Retirement Starts Today: Your Non-financial Guide to an Even Better Retirement

Follow Retirement Starts Today in
Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Amazon Music, or iHeart