February 09, 2026

The Cash Runway Plan: Build It, Store It, Refill It

22 minutes

Build a cash runway for retirement so you’re not forced to sell stocks in a down market. Learn how many years you need, how to build it, where to hold it (HYSA, CDs, T-bills), and simple refill rules.

If you’re retiring early (or already retired), sequence-of-returns risk can wreck an otherwise solid plan. A cash runway is your “seatbelt” — it buys you time during bear markets so your investments can recover without you selling at the worst moment.

In this episode, I break down:

What a cash runway is (and what it is not)

How much runway to target (1–2 years vs 3–4 vs 4–5)

4 realistic ways to build your runway before/into retirement

Redirect cash flow (save on purpose, temporarily reduce 401(k) or 403(b) above match, runway sprint, add income)

Convert assets to cash (taxable brokerage, sell “other” stuff)

Let cash build naturally (dividends/interest to cash)

Use a backstop (HELOC as a bridge — with cautions)

Where to store runway money (from simplest to structured):

Checking/savings, high-yield savings account (HYSA), money market funds, CD ladders, Treasury bill ladders (TreasuryDirect), short-term Treasury/bond funds

The 3 refill rules that turn your runway into a system (not a one-time pile of cash)

Free downloads mentioned in the episode:

📊 Free MAGI calculator Excel template: https://payhip.com/b/BsTwX - Listen to my podcast on this topic as well, titled: ACA MAGI: How to Calculate & Manage It for Big Savings!

📊2025 FPL Levels (2026 uses 2025's levels) based on household size: detailed-guidelines-2025.pdf

📊Free 12-Step Early Retirement Planning Checklist: https://payhip.com/b/IBj3q

📊Free eBook: ACA Premium Shock Fix, 10 Ways to Pay Less for Marketplace Coverage All Year Long: https://payhip.com/b/TGHts

If you have a topic you want me to cover next, email me at [email protected].

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🌐 More from me:

All my videos, podcast episodes, and freebies: https://mikeupland.com

💼 My Favorite Retirement Planning Tool! If you’re serious about planning for retirement, you’ve got to check out Boldin. It’s a powerful tool that helps you map out your financial future—whether you’re a DIY planner or just want to stress-test your retirement strategy.

👉 Try Boldin here: https://go.boldin.com/earlyretirementroadmap

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DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only and reflects my personal experience and research. It is not financial, tax, legal, or investment advice. Always consult with qualified professionals before making major retirement or financial decisions. I am not responsible for any loss or damages resulting from reliance on this information.

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By Mike Upland

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