Best Time to Withdraw Cash from my Portfolio - Jacobson & Schmitt Advisors (2024)

A common question we hear from clients is, “I need to withdraw cash from my portfolio. When should we sell investments to raise that cash?”

As we’ve discussed in other posts, timing the market is very difficult. You might get it right a time or two, but outside of that, it’s almost impossible since the market is so dynamic and complex.

You may have also heard sayings such as “sell in May and go away,” which says to sell your stocks in May as market returns are usually weaker in the summer months.

What to do? The best way to start this discussion is to see what’s happened in the past. The chart below shows real (after inflation) stock market returns in the United States by month for the last 95 years.

Best Time to Withdraw Cash from my Portfolio - Jacobson & Schmitt Advisors (1)

Source: Shiller Data (1928-2022) FactSet; JSA Research

If you’re investing for one day, it’s a coin flip whether the market will be up or down. However, if you invest for a month, chances are that about 61% of the time, you’ll earn a return that beats inflation (the right-most column in the graph).

You can see there is some difference by month. For example, there’s a higher chance of better returns in November and December than in September and October. The big question is why?

Just because it’s a particular month, does that drive stock returns? Probably not.

Let’s look at the worst month, October. We’ll pretend you did this work back in September and sold your stocks (because October has the worst historical investment returns). Guess what. You would have missed out because this October produced almost an 8% return.

Best Time to Withdraw Cash from my Portfolio - Jacobson & Schmitt Advisors (2)

Source: Shiller Data (1928-2022) FactSet: JSA Research

If we had used a shorter period, October would have looked much better (once we get rid of the months during the 1930s Great Depression).

This is all to say that timing the market is really hard. You can improve your odds, however, by being a long-term investor. In fact, investing for five years or more (rather than a month that we’ve talked about here) really improves your chances of getting a good investment result. That’s why creating a plan and sticking to it is so important!

Best Time to Withdraw Cash from my Portfolio - Jacobson & Schmitt Advisors (3)

Source: Shiller Data (1871 – July 2022); JSA Research

So, back to our original question.

If you need money from your portfolio, when should you take it out?

  • If it’s a small amount of your portfolio, wait until closer to when you need the money. After all, the odds are in your favor to stay invested.
  • If it’s a large amount of your portfolio, it’s better to have the money ready for when you need it well beforehand. For example, you wouldn’t want your home down payment invested in stocks until the closing day. Instead, that money should be in short-term bonds, cash, or sitting in your bank account well before it’s needed.

We hope this helps the next time you need cash from your portfolio.

Best Time to Withdraw Cash from my Portfolio - Jacobson & Schmitt Advisors (2024)

FAQs

When should you withdraw money from investments? ›

The best time to withdraw money from your investments is actually quite simple – it should be once you've reached the financial goal you started with. But this isn't always straightforward! Plans change and there are many factors you might want to take into account when weighing up the decision.

When should you withdraw money from a mutual fund? ›

Typically, the rule of thumb is to remain invested for four to five years for better equity fund returns and two to three years for debt funds. For long-term mutual fund investments, it is advisable to refrain from unnecessary withdrawals to allow your funds to grow steadily.

When should you cash out shares? ›

If the fundamentals of the company you've invested in start to deteriorate—like declining profits, increasing debt levels, or management issues—it may be wise to sell your shares. Holding on to stocks of a company with poor prospects can lead to significant losses.

What is the best time to exit a mutual fund? ›

When it comes to equity, it is very important that, especially when you are thinking about long-term goals, you want to exit as soon as you have 2-3 years left approaching your goal and there are just 2-3 years to get there.

Should I cash out my investments before a recession? ›

Losses aren't real until you sell. Some investors believe that by selling during a downturn, they can wait out difficult market conditions and reinvest when the market looks better. However, timing the market is extremely difficult, and even professionals who attempt to do this fail more often than not.

What should you do before you withdraw money from? ›

Before withdrawing money from an ATM, inspect it for tampering, keep your PIN private, and choose a well-lit and visible ATM.

When should I cash in my mutual funds? ›

However, if you have noticed significantly poor performance over the last two or more years, it may be time to cut your losses and move on. To help your decision, compare the fund's performance to a suitable benchmark or to similar funds. Exceptionally poor comparative performance should be a signal to sell the fund.

What is the right time to redeem mutual funds? ›

It is advisable to redeem funds only when the goal is achieved or the objective is accomplished. Any untimely or premature redemption can have an adverse impact on the value of the investment.

Do you pay taxes when you withdraw from a mutual fund? ›

When you make a withdrawal from a mutual fund that is in a taxable account, you'll owe taxes based on how long you've owned those shares. Profits on shares held a year or less are taxed at the rate for short-term capital gains, which is the same as the rate on your other income and might be as high as 37%.

What day is the best day to cash out stocks? ›

Friday is not the only day considered favorable for selling stocks. Some investors swear by Tuesday or Wednesday, citing the elimination of the volatility typically seen at the beginning and end of the week.

What is the 3 5 7 rule in trading? ›

The 3-5-7 rule in trading is a risk management guideline that suggests limiting the amount of capital you put into any single trade. According to this rule, you should not risk more than 3% of your trading capital on any one trade, no more than 5% on any one sector, and no more than 7% on all trades combined.

How do you know when to take money out of stocks? ›

When to sell a stock: 7 good reasons
  1. You've found something better. ...
  2. You made a mistake. ...
  3. The company's business outlook has changed. ...
  4. Tax reasons. ...
  5. Rebalancing your portfolio. ...
  6. Valuation no longer reflects business reality. ...
  7. You need the money. ...
  8. The stock has gone up.
Apr 19, 2024

Is it the right time to withdraw money from a mutual fund? ›

You Have Achieved Your Goal

If the investment goal has been achieved, you can withdraw from the mutual fund. For example, you have invested in a scheme to buy a house in 7 years. If you can achieve that goal by liquidating the mutual fund units, then there is a valid reason to proceed with the redemption.

What is the cut off time for mutual fund withdrawal? ›

Redemption: 3:00 P.M. Overnight funds: 1:30 P.M. Liquid funds: 1:30 P.M. All other types of funds: 3:00 P.M.

How long should you keep money in a mutual fund? ›

Mutual funds have sales charges, and that can take a big bite out of your return in the short run. To mitigate the impact of these charges, an investment horizon of at least five years is ideal.

How do you know when to pull out of an investment? ›

The answer to this question depends on your individual circ*mstances. You need to take into account the potential return you can get on the investment, how long you have been invested, and how much risk you are comfortable with.

How long should you keep money in an investment account? ›

If you're investing in the stock market, it's generally considered a good idea to plan to keep your money invested for at least five years. But a savings goal of five years or less doesn't mean you need to let your cash sit idle that whole time.

How long should I hold my investments? ›

Though there is no ideal time for holding stock, you should stay invested for at least 1-1.5 years. If you see the stock price of your share booming, you will have the question of how long do you have to hold stock? Remember, if it is zooming today, what will be its price after ten years?

What is the 30 day investment rule? ›

If you sell a security at a loss and buy the same or a substantially identical security within 30 calendar days before or after the sale, you won't be able to take a loss for that security on your current-year tax return.

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