logo
episode-header-image
Nov 2021
1h 19m

246: Finance Friday: I Want to Cash Out ...

BIGGERPOCKETS
About this episode

“Should I cash out my 401k?” That’s a question you never want to ask in an online financial independence forum. It’s been a well-known rule to never cash out retirement accounts due to withdrawal penalties, tax implications, and the possibility of throwing away your retirement plans. But, what if you had a substantially larger amount in real estate and other assets, what would you think then?


Kate is in this exact predicament and has done a phenomenal job at growing her wealth over the past decade. Kate and her husband have acquired $1.8 million in rental properties, bringing in gross rents of over $10,000 per month! She’s currently sitting on half a million dollars in rental property debt and is wondering whether cashing out her 401k to pay off the debt would make sense.


Because Kate is in such a high cash flow position, she may be asking a question that’s not so obvious. Mindy and Scott spend time walking through calculations that allow Kate to visualize what her life would look like with paid-off rentals as opposed to a fully-funded 401k account. 


In This Episode We Cover

Why a mentor can help spur you onto to make better, more aggressive investing decisions 

Moving to a different part of the country to take advantage of higher salaries

How to calculate whether or not you should withdraw your 401k funds 

Switching your job to a more flexible schedule without giving up your salary

Travel hacking and using credit card points to pay for your vacations

The benefit of using financing to buy your primary residence or rental properties

And So Much More!


Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Up next
Yesterday
How Much Do You Need for Early Retirement? (How to Calculate Your FI Number)
What’s your financial independence number (FI/FIRE number)? Are you being too conservative, or are you cutting things close? Do you even have one? Today, we’re taking a deep dive into this hotly debated topic to help you build a nest egg that will support your early retirement! W ... Show More
42m 27s
Jul 8
The Best Investing Order of Operations for FIRE (2025)
In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money Podcast, hosts Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench discuss the order of operations for investing your money to achieve FIRE. They outline the steps for both traditional early retirees and those looking to invest in real estate (or start a busi ... Show More
39m 4s
Jul 4
How I'm Accessing My IRA at 45 (Without Paying Penalties)
Want to access your IRA before turning 59½ without paying the brutal 10% early withdrawal penalty? You're not alone, and there are completely legal ways to do it that most people never learn about. In this comprehensive guide, John Bowens from Equity Trust will walk us through th ... Show More
52m 39s
Recommended Episodes
Jun 2020
25 Ways to Fix Your 401k
Do you feel just a little bit lost managing your retirement funds? Don't feel like your alone. A recent study shows that MOST Americans have no clue how to pick investments in their 401k, and worse yet, even more people feel like they're investing poorly for their retirement! If ... Show More
1h 4m
Dec 2022
Ask Paula: Should I Stay At My Job For the 401k?
#419: Casey isn’t happy at her job. If she leaves before her one-year mark, she’ll lose her 401k contributions. Should she stay or find a new job?Daan resides in a high-cost-of-living area where real estate appreciates rapidly. But there’s no cash flow. How should he evaluate rea ... Show More
58m 20s
Jan 2024
Can You Use Your 401(k) To Buy a House?
A down payment on a home will probably be the biggest transaction you’ll ever make in your life… and if you’ve been diligent about contributing to your 401(k), you might be tempted to fund your down payment from that nest egg. It's allowed, but comes with strings attached. Nicole ... Show More
8m 37s
Mar 2017
445-Should we Keep Paying off Our House with Gazelle Intensity or Switch to Saving 15% for Retirement?
Today, we cover this question: Joshua, My husband and I love your show and would LOVE IT if you could help us answer a question from your point-of-view. Facts: We're completely debt-free except for our house. We make around $130,000 per year. We're currently investing 10% for ret ... Show More
29m 48s
Jun 2024
1686: Ask Farnoosh: All-Things Retirement, Investing and Social Security
Today's episode dives into many of your biggest questions about retirement: How much is enough for a typical retirement? What are the best ways to save and invest towards this goal? Do I put it all into my 401(k) or spread it over multiple retirement accounts? What can we expect ... Show More
47m 37s
May 2023
770: Retirement Accounts Collecting Dust? Use Them to Buy Real Estate! w/Kaaren Hall
Did you know you can invest in real estate using funds you’ve probably forgotten about? For years, you’ve been socking away money into your IRA or 401(k) to ensure an abundant retirement. The problem? You’ve only been able to invest those funds into passive investments like stock ... Show More
50m 24s
Dec 2020
Ask HTM - Payoff My Mortgage or Hold as Cash, Tapping a 401(k) to Pay Off a Credit Card, and MVNO's for Everyone to Save Money #298
We’re kicking off the week by answering your questions! And if you have a question for us, we’d love for you to submit your own via HowToMoney.com/ask/ , send us your voice memo!1 - How can I get a conversation started with my girlfriend about personal finances?2 - Should I pay o ... Show More
41m 58s
Jan 2018
511-Friday Q&A: Should I Use my 401(k) Money to Invest in Real Estate with a Self-Directed IRA, What Questions Could a Client Ask their Financial Advisor for a More Productive Relationship, Do I Risk
It's Friday! That means Q&A time. Today we cover: Should I Use my 401(k) Money to Invest in Real Estate with a Self-Directed IRA What Questions Could a Client Ask their Financial Advisor for a More Productive Relationship Do I Risk the Wrath of the IRS by Moving From Sole Proprie ... Show More
1h 9m
Feb 2019
What Should You Do with Your 401(k)?
A recent survey of people participating in 401(k) plans revealed that 62% of them expect their 401(k) to be their biggest source of income in retirement. But if these accounts are so critical to retirement, why are they so often neglected? In this episode Mark Riepe talks with ex ... Show More
29m 9s
Feb 2024
Saving for Retirement When You’re Self-Employed: SEP IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs and Other Plans
Learn retirement savings strategies tailored for self-employed individuals to secure a financially stable future.How can self-employed individuals effectively save for retirement? What tailored retirement plans should freelancers and small business owners consider? NerdWallet’s S ... Show More
29m 41s