When we start working with a new client, one of the first steps is typically consolidating the number of accounts they have outstanding. In our experience this makes your finances easier to manage by reducing the mental accounting that needs to take place every time a financial decision is made. While this has always made sense to us from a simplification standpoint, it also seems to result in lower overall spending. Recent research from the University of Utah found that “consumers who use multiple accounts spend more money than those with a single account.”
Don’t Bucket Your Savings
While this process ultimately simplifies financial management for our clients, the transition from multiple accounts to just a few is not always an easy one. Most of us want to use a “bucketing” strategy to save for different life goals. However, in the event of a true emergency or change of plans, money may need to come from a fund with another intended purpose. This is why we feel consolidating the number of accounts outstanding offers the greatest flexibility in terms of cash flow and investment, not to mention it may also help with your budgeting goals.
While reducing the overall number of accounts lends simplification, there may also be cases where it is more prudent to leave an account at its current location. We often find this with 401k plans that offer much lower costs than investors could otherwise achieve in a retail account. In the case of retirement plans from a former employer, additional caution is warranted before initiating a rollover. Contact us to find out the best strategy for your investment accounts.
