I cannot borrow from my 401k plans since I no longer work for those employers. A rollover IRA does not allow me to borrow the 30K I need either. Is it possible to secure a loan using another IRA as collateral? Any other suggestions?

You can use your 401(k) as collateral for a loan, but not your IRA. More info on how to use your 401(k) here: How to use a 401k as Collateral | eHow.com (http://www.ehow.com/how_2294312_use-401k-as-collateral.html)

As for other suggestions: if you are using the $30K for a purpose that qualifies for an exception from the 10% early withdrawal penalty, it may be best to just take the withdrawal rather than a loan. Post back if you need the money for any of the following purposes: due to your total and permanent disability, unreimbursed medical expenses that are more than 7.5% of your adjusted gross income, health insurance premiums and you are unemployed (applies to IRA withdrawals only - not 401(k) withdrawals), higher education expenses for yourself, your spouse, child oir grandchild (applies to IRA withdrawals only), or money needed to buy, build, or rebuiild a first home (IRAs only).

The answer you provided is NOT VALID. I specifically stated in my question that I CANNOT borrow against or within my 401k plans, yet that is the answer you provided. Did you bother reading the question at all??

Sprite - I did not suggest that you can borrow from either plan. What I did suggest is that (a) you can use the 401(k) as collateral (against a loan you would take from another source), and (b) you can always take a withdrawl from eithetr the IRA or 401(k). I said nothing about borrowing from either the IRA or 401(k). And I did answer the specific question you asked, which was whether you can use an IRA as collateral: you can't The fact that you may not like that answer doesn't mean it's not valid.