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+--- Thread: Most Cost Effective Way to Complete HES ALM? (/Thread-Most-Cost-Effective-Way-to-Complete-HES-ALM)
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RE: Most Cost Effective Way to Complete HES ALM? - Sagan - 07-11-2026
"...making it effectively an interest free loan."
No, it isn't. Typically, the money you borrow is placed in a fixed-rate account. This secures the loan. But you lose the market opportunity that money could grow if invested instead of set aside.
Normally, one's 401k is the last resort for lending.
RE: Most Cost Effective Way to Complete HES ALM? - Jonathan Whatley - 07-11-2026
Well, the good news is it’s an interest-free loan in that you as a student are not paying interest. The bad news is it’s an interest-free loan in that you as a retirement saver are not receiving interest.
RE: Most Cost Effective Way to Complete HES ALM? - SteveFoerster - 07-12-2026
The flip side is that if you take a loan from your 401(k) right before a market downturn, you end up better off. But if you can time that sort of thing, you're better at this than I am.
RE: Most Cost Effective Way to Complete HES ALM? - crimsonhairless - 08-09-2026
As others have mentioned getting a campus job lowers tuition. I was fortunate enough to receive a 50% off tuition grant while also working at a local fedex to cover expenses.