Are You Financially Resilient? 5 Steps to Boost Your Economic Security
Being able to bounce back from adversity is a necessity, because chances are you’re going to face one (or more) setbacks during your lifetime. From a job loss to a health crisis, here’s how to take a punch, pick yourself up and get back in the fight.


A young woman lost in the Land of Oz asks how to get back to Kansas. “If I were you,” she is unhelpfully told, “I wouldn’t start from Oz.” But if Oz is where you are, you have no choice; from there is where you must start.
That is how it is with many financial hardships. We must start where we are, in the thick of it.

A Beautiful Example of Resilience
After battling stomach cancer at the age of 72, the artist Henri Matisse was confined to a wheelchair. This made it difficult to paint or sculpt. But his passion for making art was undeterred. So, Matisse cultivated a new artistic medium: paper cut-outs. By cutting out shapes and forming collages, he created a late-stage body of work that is as celebrated as his early paintings.
Matisse’s artistic reorientation was an act of creative resilience. The kind of resilience that’s becoming more of a necessity in our financial lives. Research from the National Endowment for Financial Education shows that 96% of Americans experience four or more income shocks — a health crisis, job loss or other life transition — during their working years.
Often people face these shocks from less-than-ideal starting points. Most Americans say they would have trouble paying for a $1,000 emergency expense.

What Is Financial Resilience?
I like to think of financial resilience as the ability to overcome a financial hardship and still make the best of life. It is more art than science, because each person’s situation is different. But we all proceed from the thick of it.
And conditions seem to be getting thicker. For one, life expectancy is rising, which means younger generations will need to save for a longer retirement than previous ones. Another downside of living longer is the chances are greater for experiencing unfortunate events.
Simply starting to save for retirement is a challenge for most young adults, who typically enter the workforce saddled with more than $30,000 in student loan debt.
Meanwhile, many people who grew up in the post-war years, when a degree was expected to translate to a good-paying job, a yearly vacation, some college savings for the 2.5 kids, and a comfortable pension or retirement fund, are finding that isn’t always so.
A survey from Allianz Life found that half of Americans are forced out of the workforce earlier than they planned. The leading reason was unanticipated job loss, something experienced by around 900,000 Americans between the ages of 60-69 as a result of the pandemic, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. An unexpected exit from the workplace can mean missing out on additional years of peak earnings, potentially lower retirement benefits and the need to start drawing down assets early.

How You Can Become Financially Resilient
It is important to conceptualize your finances in concrete terms: how much to save in a 401(k), what type of investments to buy, when to file for Social Security, etc. But it is also important to think abstractly, because it is difficult to account for adversity — a pandemic, a cancer diagnosis, the automation of your job.
Although our financial pictures are all different, the elements of financial resilience can be crafted along the lines of a paint-by-numbers kit:
1. An emergency fund of three to six months’ worth of expenses.
The entire purpose of this money is to alleviate the pain of an unanticipated financial hit.
2. Insurance coverage — health, home, auto, life.
Sure, it’s not as sexy as gaining triple-digit investment returns, but insurance will likely save your neck more than the market will. Take time to understand what your policies cover, and compare coverage by more than just the price.
3. A decent sized nest egg.
The appropriate amount varies based on your desired lifestyle. But for someone who makes less than $100,000, it’s a good idea to save around seven to 10 times your salary by the age of 65. Retirement savings are not only to help fulfill your goals or dreams, but also to preserve your lifestyle as your age and health leaves you more vulnerable to financial shocks.
4. Updated job skills.
Skills help us earn better pay and keep us in the game. A Brookings report estimates approximately 25% of U.S. jobs will be highly impacted by automation in the coming decades. So, it is worthwhile to learn a new skill or take an educational workshop every couple years.
5. Some kind of financial planning.
Seems obvious, right? Unfortunately, many of us for myriad reasons are simply winging it. A plan won’t prevent adversity. But financially speaking, when you have a full awareness of your situation — your cash flow, bank account balances, etc. — you are better able to adapt.
As with Matisse, resiliency is finding a new angle. It is creating a new path so you can keep moving when the world around you, as if a whirlwind, suddenly changes.
Or, in the wise words of the 13th century Persian poet Rumi: “As you start to walk on the way, the way appears.”
Get Kiplinger Today newsletter — free
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.

Jacob Schroeder is a financial writer covering topics related to personal finance and retirement. Over the course of a decade in the financial services industry, he has written materials to educate people on saving, investing and life in retirement. With the love of telling a good story, his work has appeared in publications including Yahoo Finance, Wealth Management magazine, The Detroit News and, as a short-story writer, various literary journals. He is also the creator of the finance newsletter The Root of All (https://rootofall.substack.com/), exploring how money shapes the world around us. Drawing from research and personal experiences, he relates lessons that readers can apply to make more informed financial decisions and live happier lives.
-
Baby Boomers vs Gen X: Who Spends More?
Baby Boomers and Gen X are guilty of spending a lot of money. Here's a look at where their money goes.
-
Retire in Finland and Live the Nordic Dream
Here's how to retire in Finland as a US retiree. It's ideal for those who value natural beauty, low crime and good healthcare.
-
You're Close to Retirement and Cashed Out: How Do You Get Back In?
If you've been scared into an all-cash position, it's wise to consider reinvesting your money in the markets. Here's how a financial planner recommends you can get back in the saddle.
-
After the Disaster: An Expert's Guide to Deciding Whether to Rebuild or Relocate
Homeowners hit by disaster must weigh the emotional desire to rebuild against the financial realities of insurance coverage, unexpected costs and future risk.
-
A Financial Expert's Tips for Lending Money to Family and Friends
What starts as a lifeline can turn into a minefield if the borrower ghosts the lender. Following these three steps can help you avoid family feuds over funds.
-
What the HECM? Combine It With a QLAC and See What Happens
Combining a reverse mortgage known as a HECM with a QLAC (qualifying longevity annuity contract) can provide longevity protection, tax savings and liquidity for unplanned expenses.
-
721 UPREIT DSTs: Real Estate Investing Expert Explores the Hidden Risks
Potential investors need to understand the crucial distinction between a REIT's option to buy a Delaware statutory trust's property and its obligation.
-
I'm an Insurance Expert: Yes, You Need Life Insurance Even if the Kids Are Grown and the House Is Paid Off
Life insurance isn't about you. It's about providing for loved ones and covering expenses after you're gone. Here are five key reasons to have it.
-
My Professional Advice: When It Comes to Money, You Do You
This is how embracing the 'letting others be' and 'learning to surrender' mindsets can improve your relationship with money.
-
Direct Indexing Expert Explains How It Can Be a Smarter Way to Invest
Direct indexing provides a more efficient approach to investing that can boost after-tax returns, but is it right for you?