#696: Q&A: Should Your Emergency Fund Be Invested?
Should your emergency fund chase yields, or should you prioritize stability over returns? It’s a question we haven’t had to ask for years, but as interest rates drop, savers are facing a new reality.
In this Q&A episode, we tackle four listener questions that span the practical and the philosophical. We start with a listener wondering whether to chase higher yields by moving their emergency fund into bond funds or CD ladders, now that high-yield savings rates are declining.
From there, we help a Canadian listener decide whether dimensional funds are worth the extra complexity and cost, then dive into bridge loans for homebuyers who need to buy before they sell.
We close with a follow-up from Nick, who previously asked about investing for his nephew, he’s back to share how he implemented our advice and to ask a new question that gets at the heart of work-life balance: do you stay in a high-paying job that drains you, or take a pay cut for something that gives you more life?
Listen Here
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Youtube
Listener Questions in This Episode
Jeremy asks: My emergency fund is in a high-yield savings account, but with the Fed cutting rates, yields are dropping. Should I move it into a bond fund or create a CD ladder to squeeze out an extra percent or two? Or should emergency funds stay in cash? Also, a recent guest said to save 12 months of expenses—I’m only at 3 months. Is 12 months really necessary?
Anonymous “Celine” asks (from Canada): I’ve built a complex portfolio following the efficient frontier, including dimensional funds. Should I keep using dimensional funds given their higher expense ratios (0.27-0.33% vs 0.06-0.11% for comparable ETFs)? And separately, I’m burned out at my job—should I take a significant pay cut to work part-time and have more life, even though it means delaying FIRE?
Anonymous “John” asks: What are the pros and cons of bridge loans when buying a new home before selling your current one? They seem like a good way to avoid contingent offers, but I rarely hear them discussed—am I missing major downsides?
Nick asks (follow-up from Episode 637): I opened a brokerage account for my nephew as you suggested, with him as beneficiary. My plan is to make monthly contributions and eventually transfer shares to him via in-kind gifts. But here’s my new question: I’m considering leaving my stable corporate job for something with more purpose but less pay—how do I think through this trade-off?
Key Takeaways
Emergency funds should stay in high-yield savings accounts, not bonds or CD ladders—the purpose of an emergency fund is liquidity and stability, not maximizing returns, and bond funds can lose principal value when you need access to cash most.
The right emergency fund size depends on both risk tolerance (psychological comfort) and risk capacity (your actual situation)—dual-income households need less than single earners, and workers in high-demand fields like healthcare need less than those in volatile industries.
Dimensional funds’ factor tilts (small cap, value) haven’t consistently outperformed simple market-cap-weighted index funds over the past decade, making their higher expense ratios (0.27-0.33% vs 0.06-0.11%) hard to justify unless you have strong conviction in factor investing.
Bridge loans are expensive and risky because they create a hard deadline to sell your current home—if you don’t sell in time, you face foreclosure or must refinance at potentially terrible rates, making them a last resort rather than a standard tool.
When considering a career change that trades income for quality of life, run the numbers on how it affects your FIRE timeline, but also recognize that your 40s, 50s, and 60s matter just as much as your theoretical retirement years—optimizing only for future freedom can mean sacrificing present fulfillment.
Resources:
Episode #684 Cullen Roche part 1
Episode #637 Q&A (Nick’s first question)
Affordanything.com/newsletter
Chapters
Note: Timestamps are approximate and may vary across listening platforms due to dynamically inserted ads.
(0:00) Introduction
(1:55) Jeremy’s Question: Emergency funds and declining yields
(3:25) How to determine the right emergency fund size
(8:00) Why emergency funds should stay liquid, not in bonds
(12:16) T-Bill and Chill strategy for extended savings
(18:32) Celine’s Question: Dimensional funds and career decisions
(25:00) Are dimensional funds worth the higher expense ratios?
(32:00) Trading income for quality of life: Running the numbers
(41:35) John’s Question: Bridge loans for homebuyers
(48:45) Nick’s Follow-up: Implementing advice and career change
Thanks to our sponsors!
Policy Genius
Secure your family’s future with Policygenius. Head to policygenius.com to compare life insurance quotes from top companies and see how much you could save.
Mint Mobile
Quit overspending on wireless with 50% off Unlimited premium wireless. Plans start at $15/month at mintmobile.com/paula
Grammarly
In a world of generic AI, don’t sound like everyone else. Download Grammarly for free at grammarly.com.
HelloFresh
Go to hellofresh.com/paula10fm to Get 10 free meals + a FREE Zwilling Knife (a $144.99 value) on your third box. Offer valid while supplies last.
Monarch
Set yourself up for financial success in 2026 with Monarch. Use code AFFORD at monarch.com for half off your first year.
Prolon
Prolon can help change your relationship with food in just five days. Visit prolonlife.com/paula to claim your 15% discount and your bonus gift.
US Postal Service
In business, every shipment matters. Ship with USPS Ground Advantage now at usps.com
