Zoom in. Sit back. And admire.

: investments in brokerage accounts, outside the confines of tax-sheltered vehicles.When identifying possible securities that you could sell to raise funds, focus on liquidity, tax consequences, and any commissions you’ll owe.

It’s never great to tap your retirement assets unless you absolutely need to, but theoffers more flexibility and has fewer strings attached than other tax-sheltered retirement vehicles.Specifically, you can withdraw any Roth IRA contributions at any time, without incurring penalties or tax—but you’ll have fewer retirement funds working for you.

Cash values that have built up in your whole life insurance or variable universalcan be another decent source of emergency cash. You can withdraw money outright and have it deducted from your policy’s face value.

Another possibility is to borrow from the cash value of your life insurance. You’ll owe interest on the loan, and these rates can be reasonable but aren’t always low.

is better than a hardship withdrawal because the interest you pay will get paid back into your account.Office of U.S. Attorneys, Grand Junction, Colo. (3,386 square feet)

United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Great Falls, Mont. (3,310 square feet)Mine Safety Health Administration, Green River, Wyo. (2,297 square feet)

Natural Resources Conservation Service, Greenwood, Miss. (7,500 square feet)Corps of Engineers, Civil, Griffith, Ind. (3,170 square feet)