How to Manage Your Inheritance Wisely
Print or Download Article ≫There are more advantageous ways to manage a financial windfall like this—strategies that build on the asset and increase your gains over the long term.
In this article, we will discuss some of the first initial steps to take when you receive an inheritance and offer suggestions for making your inheritance work for you through proper investing and saving.
Things to Consider When You Receive an Inheritance
Because everyone’s financial situation is unique, receiving an inheritance can mean different things to different people. It’s a good idea to have a plan in place before you start moving your inheritance around.
HIMMAS
A high-interest money market account, or a HIMMA, is a type of savings account that earns higher dividends on your money while still allowing access to your funds. These accounts are unique because they offer such high APY (annual percentage yield) compared to other savings or checking accounts.4 While the average money market rate is less than half a percent, money market accounts can offer APY as high as 2% or more. That’s a great way to gain capital without doing anything.
Learn more about Keesler Federal’s HIMMA options
High-dividend Checking Accounts
If you’re considering spending some of your inheritance immediately and need easy access to your funds, look into a checking account that pays high dividends on large balances or cashback programs. This way, your money is still working for you, even as you spend it.
How To Use Your Inheritance?
Understanding where you are in your life can help you make smart decisions that will support you here and now and down the road.
Your Demographics
Things like age, family structure, and upcoming life events are one way to determine a course of action.
● Are you of retirement age? An inheritance can make retirement more comfortable and influence how soon you retire.
● Do you have children? Consider putting money aside for higher education or a wedding fund.
● Are there other family obligations? Inheritance money could be used to support other aging or ailing family members.
Your Current Financial Situation
An inheritance can be a way to stabilize your finances.
● What does your debt look like? A portion of inheritance could help alleviate credit card debt or go towards large purchases like a car or a house.
● Have you saved for retirement? Fifteen percent of Americans have no retirement savings.5 In an ideal world, an inheritance is a nice cushion to add to your retirement funds, not the beginning of them.
● Do you have an emergency fund? Life happens—medical bills, unexpected repairs to your home or car, or job loss can make you feel strapped. Maintaining an emergency fund can help ease the burden of these unexpected expenses.
Your Financial Goals
Financial goals change as life moves along. Depending on where you are, an inheritance can help make some of those dreams a reality.
● Buying a home. Whether it’s your first home or one of many, inheritance money can make it easier to own a home free and clear or build your investment portfolio.
● Making updates. Now might be the time to start that home renovation project you’ve been dreaming of, like a new kitchen or an ADU.
● Starting a business. Time for a new career path? An inheritance can make launching your business easier, from patenting to renting a commercial space to paying staff.
Prioritize Financial Security
Using your inheritance for frivolous items or expensive trips can be tempting. And while it’s important to leave room to treat yourself, putting your financial security ahead of short-term thrills is a more sustainable way to support your financial health.
Pay Off Debt
Using an inheritance to pay off debt can help ease the financial burden (and your stress levels) so you can move forward unencumbered. Start with debt that incurs the highest interest, like credit card debt. Also, look at paying down your mortgage—the less you owe, the lighter your monthly expenses and the more you’ll earn from any potential sale later. Experts recommend that higher earners aim to save closer to 15%, whereas lower earners can stick closer to 10%.
Establish an Emergency Fund
Protect yourself and your family from unexpected financial hardship by contributing some of your inheritance to an emergency fund. Put at least three to six months’ worth6 away to cover unforeseen events like job loss or sudden medical bills.
Create a College Fund
Student loan debt has doubled since 2010.7 An inheritance can help support you or your children through their higher education without the burden of debt later in life.
Open an HSA (or Maximize Your Contribution)
Putting some of your inheritance towards a health savings account can ensure that you have ample funds to cover medical expenses. The current plan8 year allows contributions up to $3,650 for self-coverage and $7,300 for family coverage. One of the benefits of an HSA is that any unused funds continue to roll over each year, so you never lose the money you didn’t spend.
Investing Your Inheritance
Investing a portion of your inheritance gives you an opportunity to grow your wealth and continue supporting financial goals like paying off debt, saving for retirement or higher
education, or building an emergency fund.
Because everyone’s financial needs and goals differ, it’s a great idea to reach out to a financial advisor and a tax expert to look at your options and understand your potential tax implications before investing. One thing to keep in mind when considering contributing inheritance funds to an IRA is that there are eligibility requirements to contribute to an IRA9 based on your earned income and maximum contribution limits set by the IRS.
IRA Options
Putting some of your inheritance into a retirement fund is a way of investing in yourself and your future. Your age and your timeline for retirement will impact how much and how aggressively you want to invest, so take your time discussing your options with loved ones and a financial advisor. Remember that inheritance money cannot be invested in a typical IRA because it isn’t considered “income.” But there are other ways you can use your inheritance for retirement.
Dive deeper into Keesler Federal’s IRA options to see what you may qualify for
Certificates
Certificates, or share certificates, are savings accounts that offer a fixed rate and term. It’s a great way to hold allotted savings amounts and grow them without doing too much heavy lifting. Because some certificates have short terms of growth— a year or less—they make excellent options for post-retirement money or even emergency funds.
Check out certificate options with Keesler Federal here
An inheritance can give you and your family a financial edge and offer relief from certain financial burdens. Now’s a great time to speak with a financial advisor and develop a strategy specific to your financial goals.
Sources
- https://www.bls.gov/osmr/research-papers/2011/pdf/ec110030.pdf
- https://smartasset.com/investing/how-does-inheritance-work
- https://news.osu.edu/most-americans-save-only-about-half-of-their-inheritances-study-finds—ohio-state-research-and-innovation-communications/
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/best/banking/money-market-accounts
- https://www.annuity.org/retirement/retirement-statistics/#%3A~%3Atext%3DWomen%20have%20smaller%20retirement%20savings%2Cto%20%241.04%20million%20in%202021
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/banking/emergency-fund-calculator
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/banking/emergency-fund-calculator
- https://www.healthcare.gov/glossary/health-savings-account-hsa/
- https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/plan-participant-employee/retirement-topics-ira-contribution-limits