The Average 401k Is Down Over $30K This Year. Should You Use Your Retirement Fund For Debt?

With all of the economic turmoil happening, it’s no surprise that many are feeling the pinch in their retirement accounts. A recent study found that the average 401k has lost at least $30,000 in value this year alone. That’s a lot of money to lose! But does that mean you should stop contributing to your retirement accounts and put that money elsewhere? Here are a few things to consider.

 

Why are retirement accounts losing so much money?

There are a few main factors at work here. First, stock prices have been declining since the start of the year, which has impacted 401k accounts and other investments. Second, bond prices have been falling too, which means that people who are invested in those types of securities are losing money. Finally, there’s been a slowdown in the economy overall, meaning that people are spending less money and therefore saving less.

 

Should you use your retirement fund for debt?

That’s a tough question to answer definitively. When you’re worried about your financial security, it’s natural to wonder how to pay off debt fast. With all that money sitting in a 401k or IRA, wouldn’t it make sense to put it to better use, like paying off credit cards and student loans?

That’s a tricky question to answer definitively. On the one hand, it might make sense to use your retirement funds to cover some of your debt payments (assuming you can afford to do so). However, you need to understand that withdrawing from your retirement accounts could mean fees and penalties since those accounts are intended to be held until retirement age.

On the other hand, if you want to divert future contributions toward paying off debt, that could be a temporary “best of both worlds” solution. The funds in your retirement accounts can fluctuate without any tax penalty while your future contributions are held back to pay off credit cards, student loans, etc.

However, you shouldn’t do this for “good” debts like mortgages or student loans if you’re in a good place with your finances. These types of debt are considered “good” because they will pay off over time, so using your retirement funds to pay them off now would be a waste.

Either way, it’s important to weigh all of your options carefully before deciding what to do with your retirement savings. You don’t want to unnecessarily jeopardize your financial future – especially if the economy is still rocky.

 

I don’t have any retirement accounts set up. Is this a bad time to start one?

It’s never a bad idea to set money aside for the future. The best time to start a retirement account is now, no matter what your current financial situation is. In fact, if you’re not currently saving for retirement, creating an account today could be the best decision you ever make.

Several types of retirement accounts are available, and each has its own set of benefits. Options include Traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs, 401k plans (with company match), and SEP-IRA plans (for small businesses).

Whatever type of retirement account you choose, be sure to research the options available to you and decide which one is the best fit for your situation. You don’t want to regret not saving for your future later on down the road.

 

The bottom line

Having a well-managed retirement fund is essential to both financial security and freedom in later years. It’s important to understand the benefits and risks of using your retirement fund for debt repayment before you decide to do so, as you might set yourself up for financial stress later on when you’re no longer able to work.