Mortgage paid off… what now?

Congratulations, you have finally made the last repayment on your mortgage! What will you do with the extra funds that bring a breath of fresh air to your monthly budget? Rather than giving in to the temptation to spend more without thinking, why not allocate part of these resources to investing in your future. myLIFE suggests a few ideas on how to do this.*

Everyone who has been through it will tell you, you feel a sense of great satisfaction the day you make the last payment on your mortgage. The satisfaction is twofold: knowing you truly own your home, but also freeing up monthly cash flow to do as you wish. The temptation to indulge yourself is great, and it is legitimate. However, it would be a shame to fall victim to excessive lifestyle inflation and to ignore the benefits of delayed gratification.

Paying off a loan usually involves significant monthly amounts. Now that this repayment is behind you, why not build up an emergency savings fund and invest at least part of that amount to be able to realize other projects in the future.

Building up an emergency savings

A broken-down car, unexpected medical expenses, a sudden drop in income—financial surprises can happen at any time. That’s why it’s always wise to build up an emergency savings before venturing into riskier investments. This will allow you to handle unexpected events without financial stress. It is generally recommended to have the equivalent of 3 to 6 months of monthly expenses. This means that if your monthly expenses are around €3,000, you should aim to set aside between €9,000 and €18,000.

How to do it?

Open and fund a savings account. This will allow you to always have access to your funds when needed while letting them grow. Certainly, the interest rates on these accounts are modest, but it’s still worth having.

if your monthly expenses are around €3,000, you should aim to set aside between €9,000 and €18,000 as emergency savings.

Maintain and enhance your property

If you have paid off your loan, you are most likely living in your home for quite some time. You therefore know very well that your property requires maintenance and sometimes needs to be repaired. In short, even after being paid off, it will continue to cost you money. This is especially true if you are considering carrying out some renovation work or extensions. So, why not allocate part of the freed-up cash to the maintenance and enhancement of your home.

How to do it?

Besides a savings account, you could invest in a term deposit or in a home savings plan. The latter, which is fiscally advantageous, could make sense if you are considering more significant renovation work in the medium term. Depending on the urgency of the work to be done, you should make sure to prioritize liquid savings so that you can access this money at any time.

Thinking about tomorrow

Now that you have secured the present, why not think about the future and that of your loved ones? Even if retirement is not right around the corner, it is high time to start preparing if you wish to maintain your standard of living when the time comes. The children might go study abroad in a few years, and that represents significant amounts. There’s that big family celebration you want to organize. In short, it’s today that you prepare for tomorrow, and your banker is here to guide you towards the right investments according to your situation and your life plans.

Securing your future and that of your loved ones may, for example, involve taking out a retirement savings plan or a life insurance policy.

How to do it?

For example, you can take out a retirement savings plan in preparation for retirement, or a life insurance policy to secure your loved ones’ financial future in the event of a sudden departure. You also benefit from certain tax advantages.

You could also consider taking your first steps on the financial markets and investing regularly in easily accessible solutions (for example, flexicav) that offer a level of risk adapted to your investor profile.

Investing in the stock markets

Do you want to invest with the aim of achieving some ambitious life projects? Very well, but are you also aware that this will require you to aim for higher returns, even if it means taking greater risks and accepting greater volatility in the value of your invested capital? If your answer is yes and you have a solid foundation of savings and investments, it becomes possible to invest part of your liquid assets in the stock markets.

How to do it?

If you are considering entering the stock markets, we recommend relying on the expertise of a professional in the field. They will be able to guide you towards the solution best suited to your situation, whether it is discretionary management, an advisory contract, or an execution-only formula that simply consists of executing your investment orders.

Getting started with rental property investment

With your mortgage paid off, you now have increased borrowing capacity to acquire a rental property. In fact, in addition to the available funds to repay a new loan, you now own a property that can serve as collateral for a new credit application. If you are ready to commit further, rental property investment can be a very attractive option. Rental real estate is appealing as a source of income and long-term capital growth within a portfolio. That said, it also comes with risks and some potential pitfalls that should not be ignored.

Diversify and aim for the long term

From precautionary savings to riskier investments, there is a certain logic to progressing along the investment curve. By following it, you also give yourself the means to respect another fundamental principle when it comes to investing your money: diversification. This strategy can protect you against market fluctuations and offer you income from various different sources.

From precautionary savings to riskier investments, there is a certain logic to progressing along the investment curve.

Moreover, it is preferable to invest small amounts regularly with a long-term investment horizon. And if all this is new to you, it is wise to seek professional guidance.

It is normal, when monthly financial resources become available, to be tempted to improve your immediate living comfort and enjoy life. However, investing at least part of this liquidity can allow you to build a solid and peaceful financial future for yourself and your family. By making informed decisions with the help of your banker, you can not only secure your future but also realize new life projects in a more or less near future.

* Content translated from French by the BIL GPT AI tool