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Learning, Sharing, and Teaching => Investor Alley => Topic started by: Must Stache on April 26, 2017, 06:14:56 AM

Title: Sell winners or spend cash savings?
Post by: Must Stache on April 26, 2017, 06:14:56 AM
Looking for some advice:

Let's say I have a $30K debt that I need to pay off next month.  I currently have $30K sitting in a savings account earning 1%.  This is my only cash savings outside of my investment portfolio.  I also have a taxable investment account in which I invested $500K, but it is now worth $530K because of the recent bull market.  Am I better off to sell $30K from my investment portfolio to capture those gains or just let it keep growing and instead use the cash I have sitting in the savings account to pay off the debt? 

It seems like maybe this is a "timing the market" question, but I would appreciate any thoughts! 
Title: Re: Sell winners or spend cash savings?
Post by: MasterStache on April 26, 2017, 06:26:46 AM
Not sure why you would pull money out of investments to pay off a debt when you have the money in savings.
Title: Re: Sell winners or spend cash savings?
Post by: Must Stache on April 26, 2017, 08:30:15 AM
Not sure why you would pull money out of investments to pay off a debt when you have the money in savings.

My thinking was to capture the $30K in gains, while preserving my cash savings for future opportunities.  I'm a little nervous about depleting my cash reserves entirely.   
Title: Re: Sell winners or spend cash savings?
Post by: MasterStache on April 26, 2017, 08:38:59 AM
Not sure why you would pull money out of investments to pay off a debt when you have the money in savings.

My thinking was to capture the $30K in gains, while preserving my cash savings for future opportunities.  I'm a little nervous about depleting my cash reserves entirely.

Sounds like market timing. 
Title: Re: Sell winners or spend cash savings?
Post by: Must Stache on April 26, 2017, 08:48:10 AM
Not sure why you would pull money out of investments to pay off a debt when you have the money in savings.

My thinking was to capture the $30K in gains, while preserving my cash savings for future opportunities.  I'm a little nervous about depleting my cash reserves entirely.

Good suggestion for taking some from different places.  Thank you.

As for the taxes, I have to look at the specific holdings, but most have been more than 1 year.
Title: Re: Sell winners or spend cash savings?
Post by: Must Stache on April 26, 2017, 08:49:44 AM
Not sure why you would pull money out of investments to pay off a debt when you have the money in savings.

My thinking was to capture the $30K in gains, while preserving my cash savings for future opportunities.  I'm a little nervous about depleting my cash reserves entirely.

Good suggestion for taking some from different places.  Thank you.

As for the taxes, I have to look at the specific holdings, but most have been more than 1 year.

Whoops, I meant to respond to L.A.S. here.