Is Borrowing from Your 401(k) a Good Idea?

It usually starts with a single, urgent realization: the cash on hand isn't enough. Whether it's the weight of an unexpected funeral, the dream of a first home within reach, or the quiet desperation of a looming foreclosure, the decision to tap into a 401(k) is rarely made lightly. It is the sound of a 'future self' making a sacrifice for the 'present self' to simply stay afloat.

Regardless of why, it’s important to understand what making an early withdrawal from your 401(k) or other retirement plan really means. There could be penalties, taxes and other costs to consider.

As a financial advisor, there’s a lot of confusion about how retirement plans work, so the team at Scarborough Capital Management has created this refresher. If you have a question that is not addressed here or are considering borrowing from your retirement plan, let’s talk. A no-obligation conversation can go a long way.

Quick Facts About Borrowing from Your 401(k)

First and foremost, it’s important to know that just because you have a 401(k) doesn’t mean you can borrow from it. It’s completely up to your employer whether you have this option or not.

If your employer does allow 401(k) loans, you can borrow up to $50,000 or 50 percent of your vested account balance, whichever is less. Repayments for your loan are automatically deducted from your paycheck each pay period.

The Benefits

There are three main reasons we see people borrow from their 401(k)s:

• It’s quick and easy. One of the biggest benefits is that you get quick access to cash when you need it most. You don’t have to apply and wait for approval like you would with other types of loans.
• It doesn’t require a credit check. You’re essentially borrowing money from yourself when you take out a 401(k) loan, so there is no credit check required.
• It doesn’t count toward debt. Your 401(k) loan doesn’t count toward your overall debt or appear on your credit report, which could be helpful if you’re trying to keep your debt-to-income ratio low.

However, there are many downsides that accountholders may not consider.

Drawbacks

When it comes to borrowing from your 401(k) here are a few things to be aware of:

• You may not be able to make 401(k) contributions. Depending on how your employer’s plan is set up, you may not be able to make contributions to your 401(k) or another retirement plan while you have an active loan. If it takes you five years to pay back the loan, that’s five years of retirement savings and investment growth you’ll miss out on.
• You could miss out on an employer match. If your plan doesn’t allow you to make 401(k) contributions while you have a loan and your employer offers a 401(k) match, you’ll be missing out on this “free money” until you pay back your loan.
• You could pay penalty fees or taxes. If you fail to repay your 401(k) loan, you could be subject to income taxes, as well as a 10 percent early withdrawal penalty if you’re under age 59-½.
• You’ll miss out on investment returns. The most obvious drawback is that you’re missing out on investment returns when you borrow money from your 401(k). For example, let’s say you borrow $25,000 from your 401(k), and it takes you five years to pay it back. In five years, that $25,000 could’ve grown to $33,456, (assuming a 6 percent rate of return), netting you just under $8,500 in gains. In 20 years, it could’ve grown to $80,178.
• It’s dependent on your employment status. If you leave your job for some reason, you may have to pay back your 401(k) loan sooner than you think. Before the Tax Cuts and Job Act, you had 60 days to pay back your loan after leaving your job. Now, you have until your tax return is due to repay any money or transfer the loan to another plan that will accept the loan obligation and repayment schedule. If you miss this deadline, your loan is deemed a withdrawal and you have to pay subsequent taxes and fees if you’re younger than age 59-½.

When Borrowing from Your 401(k) May Not Make Sense

If you’re needing to borrow money for something elective, like a vacation, a house remodel or the kids’ college tuition, for example, it may be best to leave your retirement account alone and look for other means of cash.

Borrowing from your 401(k) should really be a last resort. If you’re unsure how to cover an upcoming expense, let’s talk! The financial advisors at Scarborough Capital Management can help you weigh your options.

Get a Second Opinion First

Once you borrow from your 401(k), you can’t take it back.

Make sure a 401(k) loan is right for you by discussing your situation with a financial advisor first. The financial advisors at Scarborough Capital Management can help you sort through your options to see if there are any other alternatives to borrowing from your 401(k).

At Scarborough Capital Management, we’re passionate about helping you reach your financial goals, whether that’s preparing for a secure retirement, saving for your next house, or paying off debt. If you’d like help putting a plan in place, schedule a no-obligation conversation with our team, and get the discussion started.