If you’re thinking about borrowing against your 401(k), tread carefully. Not only would you be messing with your retirement savings, you’ll also be running the risk of incurring penalties. If not handled carefully, you could also have less money saved than you planned when you’re ready to retire.
However, life happens, and we get that. If you seriously need access to cash for a short-term need, borrowing from your 401(k) may be a last resort option.
At the same time, know that there are strict rules for 401(k) loans.
A 401(k) loan is essentially borrowing money from a 401(k) retirement plan. Unlike typical loans, borrowing from your 401(k) does not involve credit checks or working with a bank. With a 401(k) loan, you’re borrowing against yourself, and you usually don’t have to explain why you want the loan.
Once you borrow from your 401(k), you’re required to pay it back, generally with interest and within a set time-frame.
Whether it’s even possible for you to borrow against your 401(k) depends on your employer, your 401(k) plan and your vested account balance.
However, there’s a lot more to choosing a loan than whether or not there’s a credit check; borrowing against your retirement account could include some significant downsides.
Your 401(k) plan will set the amount you’re allowed to borrow, but generally it’s up to 50% of your vested account balance and a maximum of $50,000. The IRS requires that the loan must be repaid within five years, unless the loan is used to buy your primary residence. Additionally, the loan repayments must be made in substantially level payments, at least quarterly, over the life of the loan.
The interest rate you’re required to pay is set by the 401(k) plan administrator and is generally closer to the prime rate and lower than typical bank loans.
These are the general rules, but it’s a good idea to defer to the rules of your 401(k) plan since each plan is different.
First, if you’re borrowing against your 401(k), you’re not just tapping into any pool of money – you’re taking money out of an account you created for your future, which means you’re potentially messing with your long-term savings for retirement.
Let’s say you pulled $25,000 out of your 401(k) balance. Considering an average rate of return of 7% over five years invested in the stock market, at the end of the five years, your money could have grown to $33,377. And if kept in your 401(k), that money could’ve been worth exponentially more in ten to twenty years.
This loan can put retirement plans on the back burner: you’re earning less interest because your balance is smaller.
Another consideration is the repayment requirements:
On top of these reasons, your money will be double taxed if you borrow from your 401(k). Unlike your initial contributions, which were made with pre-tax dollars, you can only pay back your 401(k) with after-tax income. Once you retire, the money that you that borrowed and then re-payed will be taxed again when you withdraw it.
If this has you thinking twice about borrowing against your 401(k), there are alternatives that could help you keep your retirement savings on track. Here are a few:
Yes, you are taking on more debt, but you won’t have to worry about potentially having an early withdrawal penalty like you would if you were to take out a 401(k) loan and couldn’t pay it back on time. There are personal loans that have no fees, and having an excellent credit score can increase your chance of getting the most competitive interest rates.
Borrowing against the equity in your home using a HELOC or home equity loan could provide a relatively low-interest option, compared to credit cards, provided that you have built up enough equity in your home to qualify for a HELOC.
Also known as a second mortgage, when used on the right home improvements, a HELOC could be a way to finance repairs that could in turn increase the value of your home.
You set aside money for emergencies… for emergencies, so it may be worthwhile to consider tapping into your emergency fund instead of pulling money out of your 401(k). The potential interest you would lose from tapping into your emergency fund will generally be lower than the amount of interest you would lose from borrowing against your 401(k).
Unexpected life events and expenses happen to us all. However, the budgeting and saving habits established throughout the years can help you better prepare for these events.
Here are a few resources on building better saving, budgeting and money management habits:
This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized professional advice. Articles on this site were commissioned and approved by Marcus by Goldman Sachs®, but may not reflect the institutional opinions of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Goldman Sachs Bank USA or any of their affiliates, subsidiaries or divisions.