Anonymous
Post 09/07/2025 16:24     Subject: Emergency accounts — all cash?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We have $300K in a MMA earning 4.15%.

My spouse became unemployed at 59.5, and we have one DC in college, and one a HS senior. I want to retire next year, so we need a large cash buffer.

IMO, it's better to have 1 yr worth of expenses due to the roller coaster ride of the current economy.

Also, if you read through the jobs forum, there are a lot of people who have been unemployed for 1+yr.


Who gives 4.15?

https://www.schwab.com/money-market-funds


Just making sure people understand these types of accounts also carry fees. So the net is not 4.15 percent.


And understand what they invest in. MMFs although not FDIC insured are generally safe though treasury MMF will be safer than retail MMF. Just don't invest in something for the interest rate but understand what it is.
Anonymous
Post 09/07/2025 14:20     Subject: Emergency accounts — all cash?

Interest rates for HYSA are slow to rise and quick to fall. What about keeping 3 months in a HYSA and laddering the rest? So an additional 3 months worth of expenses in a 3 month CD and the remainder in a 6 month CD. The you can access money if you need it, but you guarantee a 4+% interest rate, at least for the next 6 months.
Anonymous
Post 09/07/2025 14:19     Subject: Emergency accounts — all cash?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We have $300K in a MMA earning 4.15%.

My spouse became unemployed at 59.5, and we have one DC in college, and one a HS senior. I want to retire next year, so we need a large cash buffer.

IMO, it's better to have 1 yr worth of expenses due to the roller coaster ride of the current economy.

Also, if you read through the jobs forum, there are a lot of people who have been unemployed for 1+yr.


Who gives 4.15?

https://www.schwab.com/money-market-funds


Just making sure people understand these types of accounts also carry fees. So the net is not 4.15 percent.
Anonymous
Post 09/07/2025 13:55     Subject: Emergency accounts — all cash?

I would try to get to a year's worth of expenses.
Anonymous
Post 09/07/2025 13:10     Subject: Re:Emergency accounts — all cash?

I would leave it in cash and keep building it. Spouse and I are both experiencing uncertainty with federally funded employment and a saturated job market and currently have two years in cash split between a HYSA and money market fund.
Anonymous
Post 09/07/2025 12:49     Subject: Re:Emergency accounts — all cash?

We have a years’ worth of living expenses in a HYSA (Betterment, current promo rate is 4.65%).
Anonymous
Post 09/07/2025 12:31     Subject: Emergency accounts — all cash?

Anonymous wrote:Trump is going to crash the dollar
Run on banks in January prepare now


How? Move funds to euros?
Anonymous
Post 09/07/2025 11:32     Subject: Emergency accounts — all cash?

Trump is going to crash the dollar
Run on banks in January prepare now
Anonymous
Post 09/07/2025 11:25     Subject: Emergency accounts — all cash?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We have $300K in a MMA earning 4.15%.

My spouse became unemployed at 59.5, and we have one DC in college, and one a HS senior. I want to retire next year, so we need a large cash buffer.

IMO, it's better to have 1 yr worth of expenses due to the roller coaster ride of the current economy.

Also, if you read through the jobs forum, there are a lot of people who have been unemployed for 1+yr.


Who gives 4.15?

https://www.schwab.com/money-market-funds
Anonymous
Post 09/07/2025 11:12     Subject: Emergency accounts — all cash?

Anonymous wrote:We have $300K in a MMA earning 4.15%.

My spouse became unemployed at 59.5, and we have one DC in college, and one a HS senior. I want to retire next year, so we need a large cash buffer.

IMO, it's better to have 1 yr worth of expenses due to the roller coaster ride of the current economy.

Also, if you read through the jobs forum, there are a lot of people who have been unemployed for 1+yr.


Who gives 4.15?
Anonymous
Post 09/07/2025 11:11     Subject: Emergency accounts — all cash?

We have 1 year of expenses in cash right now.
Anonymous
Post 09/07/2025 11:07     Subject: Emergency accounts — all cash?

We have $300K in a MMA earning 4.15%.

My spouse became unemployed at 59.5, and we have one DC in college, and one a HS senior. I want to retire next year, so we need a large cash buffer.

IMO, it's better to have 1 yr worth of expenses due to the roller coaster ride of the current economy.

Also, if you read through the jobs forum, there are a lot of people who have been unemployed for 1+yr.
Anonymous
Post 09/07/2025 11:07     Subject: Emergency accounts — all cash?

How do you define “cash” and how do you define “investments”?

Our emergency funds are those we can get to quickly like: checking, savings, CDs, HYSA, MMF. All funds that cannot lose value.
Anonymous
Post 09/07/2025 10:48     Subject: Emergency accounts — all cash?

I don't think 8 months is overly conservative in your situation
Anonymous
Post 09/07/2025 10:44     Subject: Emergency accounts — all cash?

I’ve been prioritizing saving in cash accounts this year knowing that it is highly likely I’ll be laid off ((government contractor in a non-favored field). So far I’ve been lucky and it looks like I’ll be safe at least through the end of the year. I finally reached ~$70K in cash savings (which is about 8 months of expenses). All is in a HYSA. I’m debating whether I should move some of it into investments or just leave it be especially with the threat of recession. How much do you have in pure cash vs. investments when facing a personal cliff?