A recent GOBankingRates survey shows that nine out of 10 people have checked accounts. But despite the familiarity, the question of how much, exactly, to keep in one remains a personal finance mystery for many.
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“I’ve had many clients ask about how much cash they should keep liquid vs. how much they should invest in the markets for a better rate of return,” said Charles Claver, senior vice president and director of investment management and trust for First Bank. Claver says the right amount is “typically very personal depending on the client and his or her financial situation.”
That’s undoubtedly true, but once you hit $5,000, it’s possible that at least some of the cash in your checking account might be able to work harder for you elsewhere. Here are six options to consider.
If Your Monthly Expenses Are Around $5K, Do Nothing
Start by asking what $5,000 means to you in the context of monthly spending. “Everyday checking is for your bills and expenses,” said Claver. “Basically, the funds that are frequently coming in and out.”
Northwestern Mutual recommends keeping about a month’s worth of take-home pay in your checking account to give yourself a 30-day cushion. Excess money languishing in checking can serve you better elsewhere, but cutting it too close is dangerous.
Checking account activity is frequent and consistent — subscriptions and other recurring payments, cash withdrawals, direct deposits, BNPL transactions, etc. So if your monthly spend is around $5,000 and that’s what you have in checking, stay put. But if you spend less or have more, congratulations — you’ve outgrown your checking account by living within your means.
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Purchase Financial Security by Funding a Savings Account
The GOBankingRates survey showed that about 50% of the population has no emergency savings. If you have money to spare in checking, wave goodbye to the half that’s living check to check and join the half that isn’t by moving the excess to a federally insured savings account — the highest yields are currently over 4%.
“These are funds that are for short-term emergencies and contingencies,” said Claver.
Your instinct might be to pay down debt first, but without at least a modest emergency fund, the broken window or dead alternator that’s always just around the corner will send you right back to your credit cards before you’ve even finished paying them off.
Now It’s Time To Deal With Debt — Maybe
You were right to prioritize debt, but according to Fidelity, eliminate it comes in second behind an emergency fund only if you’re paying at least 6% interest.
Most loans cost more than today, but if you are locked in a lower rate when money is still cheap, keep kicking that can get down the road. Instead, your checking surplus would be of more use in a brokerage account.
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The reason for the 6% rule is that sound investments can earn at least that much over time, which means your gains can outpace the interest you’re paying on your debt.
“Long-term funds should be invested in a balanced, diversified portfolio for long-term appreciation,” said Claver.
Always go for an employer’s 401(k) match first, but if that’s not an option, open a no-fee brokerage account that allows fractional-share trading so you can start small with whatever you have and make every dollar count.
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Graduate to New Opportunities
The balanced, diversified portfolio that Claver envisions will look different for everybody. Most experts advise newbies to use dollar-cost averaging to buy partial shares of an index ETF consistently over time and stick with it for the long haul.
That’s timeless advice, but while your starter investments are (hopefully) appreciating, learn as much as you can about how to diversify your holdings when your checking account starts to bulge once more, including:
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Real estate, including physical properties, REITS and crowdfunding
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Precious metals
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P2P loans
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Bonds and other debt instruments
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Tangible assets like art and wine
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Cryptocurrencies and other digital assets
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Income-generating investments like annuities
Spread the Wealth to New Accounts
Now that you’ve expanded your holdings beyond checking to include a savings and brokerage account, consider how you might get even more from your money by stashing some cash in tax-advantaged accounts with special privileges. Roth IRAs are one of the most versatile options.
Unlike traditional IRAs and 401(k)s, you fund Roth IRAs with after-tax income. Since the IRS already took its bite, you can make tax-free withdrawals later — any gains you earn over time are tax-exempt, too. You can contribute until any age, there are no required minimum distributions and your heirs don’t have to pay taxes on Roth IRAs you leave as an inheritance.
Also consider a health savings account (HSA), which lets people with qualifying high-deductible insurance plans save money with a unique triple tax advantage. Your money goes into an untaxed HSA, gains on your investments are untaxed and you can make withdrawals for qualified medical expenses — both now and in retirement — without ever giving a dime to the IRS.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 6 Things You Must Do If You Have More Than $5,000 in Your Checking Account