Personal finance is nuanced, but in general, experts recommend hitting financial milestones in a particular order. Like learning to walk before you run, an investing order of operations can give ...

Large medical bills, home repairs, or family emergencies may require tapping accounts in a different order: Emergency Funds ... tax-advantaged accounts during market downturns.

Maxing out your 401 (k) is one of the most challenging steps in the investing order of operations. The contribution limits are high for 401 (k)s — $23,500 in 2025, with an additional $7,500 for those ...