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How Much Cash Should You Keep in Retirement?
There is no one retirement cash number that fits everyone. Many retirees start by holding roughly one to three years of planned portfolio withdrawals in cash or cash-like holdings, but the right amount depends on how much spending is already covered by Social Security, pensions, and other reliable income.
Retirement
Which Retirement Accounts Should You Withdraw From First?
There is no single retirement withdrawal order that fits every household. A common starting point is taxable money first, then traditional retirement accounts, then Roth assets, but the stronger answer depends on taxes, required minimum distributions, Social Security timing, cash reserves, and which accounts you want to preserve for later flexibility.
Retirement
How to Build a Tax-Smart Retirement Withdrawal Plan
A tax-smart retirement withdrawal plan coordinates taxable accounts, traditional retirement accounts, Roth money, Social Security, RMDs, Medicare premiums, and cash reserves so income is funded deliberately instead of one withdrawal at a time.
Retirement
How to Build a Retirement Income Plan
A retirement income plan turns Social Security, pensions, savings, cash reserves, portfolio withdrawals, taxes, and possible annuity income into a paycheck that can adapt as markets, healthcare costs, and household needs change.
Retirement
Should You Borrow From Your 401(k) Before Retirement?
A 401(k) loan can provide temporary access to retirement money without creating an immediate taxable distribution, but repayment rules, job-loss risk, default risk, and lost investment growth can make it more expensive than it looks.
Retirement
Should You Take a Hardship Withdrawal From Your 401(k)?
A 401(k) hardship withdrawal can provide access to retirement money during an immediate and heavy financial need, but it may be taxable, may still face the 10% early distribution tax, cannot be rolled over, and usually cannot be repaid to the plan.
Retirement
Which Accounts Should You Tap First If You Retire Early?
Early retirement changes the usual withdrawal-order question. Before age 59 1/2, the best account to tap first depends on cash reserves, taxable accounts, Roth contribution access, 401(k) rules, the Rule of 55, 72(t), health insurance, taxes, and how long the bridge years need to last.
Retirement
What Is a 72(t) Distribution?
A 72(t) distribution uses substantially equal periodic payments to access certain retirement accounts before age 59 1/2 without the 10% early distribution tax. It can help bridge early retirement income, but the rules are rigid and mistakes can create retroactive tax consequences.
Retirement
What Is an In-Service Withdrawal From a 401(k)?
An in-service withdrawal lets a still-employed worker take money from a 401(k) or other workplace retirement plan if the plan allows it. The key is knowing which source of money is available, whether the distribution is taxable or rollover-eligible, and how it differs from a hardship withdrawal, plan loan, or in-service rollover.
Small Business
What Payroll Taxes Should Small Business Owners Plan For?
Small business owners with employees need to plan for payroll withholding, Social Security and Medicare taxes, FUTA, deposits, payroll tax filings, Form W-2 reporting, state obligations, payroll-provider oversight, and cash set-asides.
Savings
Where Should You Keep Short-Term Savings?
The best place for short-term savings depends on the money's job. Checking, high-yield savings, money market accounts, and CDs each fit different timelines, access needs, and flexibility limits.
Investing
What Should You Keep in Cash Versus Bonds?
Cash and bonds both add stability to a plan, but they do different jobs. Cash protects near-term access, while bonds can support income, diversification, and longer-term portfolio balance.
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