He raked in $990K enjoying within the NFL final 12 months, teaches finance at UPenn, and interned at UBS. And he’s bought a easy piece of cash recommendation all of us want to listen to proper now.

NFL linebacker Brandon Copeland made $990,000 within the NFL final 12 months, in accordance with CBS Sports activities — however that’s not even near probably the most fascinating factor about him. He’s additionally constructed a monetary empire known as Copeland Media, the place he serves because the CEO and oversees the corporate’s monetary consulting agency known as Cascade Advisory Group. Whereas attending the College of Pennsylvania, he interned at UBS and has since returned to his alma mater to show a monetary literacy course. And two years in the past, he added contributing editor at Kiplinger to his resume.

One piece of his recommendation that feels notably related now — as a recession looms and financial savings accounts are paying greater than they’ve since 2009 (see the perfect financial savings account charges you could get now right here) — is that this: You want an emergency fund.

One piece of his recommendation that feels notably related now — as a recession looms and financial savings accounts are paying greater than they’ve since 2009 (see the perfect financial savings account charges you could get now right here) — is that this. “A wholesome emergency fund usually incorporates three to 6 months’ wage or dwelling bills, however as all the time, you need to assess your scenario and save as a lot as you fairly can,” says Copeland. (Copeland himself reportedly saves nearly all of his personal wage.) He notes that an emergency fund may help you within the occasion of a medical problem, job loss, maintaining our of debt, and extra.

What the professionals say about an emergency fund now

Licensed monetary planner Danna Jacobs of Legacy Care Wealth agrees that an emergency fund of three to six months of bills is a important basis for a wholesome monetary dwelling. “We usually earmark these financial savings in high-interest financial savings accounts in order that our purchasers can earn slightly extra on these funds,” says Jacobs. See the perfect financial savings account charges you could get now right here. See the perfect financial savings account charges you could get now right here.

Jacobs says if you happen to’re a twin earnings family you’ll be able to usually goal a smaller emergency fund since you’ve supplemental earnings to help a possible job loss. However these with dependents, who’ve much less secure jobs or who’ve a single earnings might wish to save extra.

“Having a considerable pile of money to have the ability to draw on affords a lot flexibility, and there’s actual peace of thoughts in figuring out you’ll be okay if catastrophe strikes,” says licensed monetary planner Keith Spencer of Spencer Monetary Planning, who notes that it’s higher to err on the aspect of an excessive amount of money slightly than not sufficient. 

If the really useful quantity of reserves appears unachievable to the family, licensed monetary planner Paul Collinson of Legacy Planning Advisors recommends splitting the quantity into achievable parcels. “Maybe purpose to build up one month of reserves each 3 to six months till the really useful variety of months is achieved. The backdrop is that you will need to maintain family members accountable when setting aspirational targets corresponding to when constructing an emergency fund over a interval of months or years,” says Collinson.

And observe that this quantity could also be fluid. “In case you’re paying for childcare proper now, that might undoubtedly be included however in a couple of years, it may not must be,” says licensed monetary planner Cristina Guglielmetti of Future Good Planning.