Thanks to the Fed, cash is no longer trash. Yields on short-term fixed-income accounts and securities–typically meaning those maturing in one year or less–have tracked the Fed's key rate and now are mostly between 1% and 2%. And note: If the Fed sticks with its rate-hike plan, yields on bank savings deposits, money market funds, U.S. Treasury bills and other short-term accounts could be 1.25 points higher by the end of 2019 than they are today.
Earnings for All
- 35 Ways to Earn Up to 11% on Your Money
- Short-Term Accounts: 1%-2%
- Muncipal Bonds: 2%-3%
- Investment-Grade Bonds: 3%-4%
- Foreign Bonds: 3%-5%
- High-Yield bonds: 3%-6%
- Dividend-Paying Stocks: 4%-6%
- Real-Estate Investment Trusts: 4%-9%
- Closed-End Funds: 4%-9%
- Master Limited Partnerships: 8%-11%
The risks: There is little to no risk of principal loss on most short-term accounts. The main risk is inflation. The annualized U.S. inflation rate is about 2%, and until yields rise above that mark, cash in these accounts is losing purchasing power.
How to invest: One of the most popular short-term savings options is a money market deposit account at a bank. The average national yield is a mere 0.18%, but some banks recently paid as much as 1.8% on such accounts, says Greg McBride, chief financial analyst at Bankrate.com. So it pays to shop around. Federal deposit insurance is identical at every bank: It insures deposits up to $250,000 per depositor, per institution.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
If you're willing to lock up your cash for one year, you can find banks paying as much as 2.2% on one-year certificates of deposit. But McBride says most savers are smart to stay liquid in money market accounts: "In a rising-rate environment, you want the ability to reinvest on a regular basis" at higher yields.
Banks' chief rivals for short-term savings are money market mutual funds. The average money fund yield was recently 1.3%, but some are paying significantly more. We like Vanguard Prime Money Market (symbol VMMXX, yield 1.8%). Though not federally insured, money funds are low-risk.
Finally, a super-safe option is U.S. Treasury bills. Six-month T-bills recently yielded 2%. You can buy them directly from Uncle Sam at www.treasurydirect.gov. Residents of high-income-tax states will appreciate that states don't tax U.S. Treasury interest income.
-
Seven Steps Couples Should Take Before Blending Their FinancesGetting on the same page now can ensure you remain successful throughout your relationship.
-
Charitable Remainder Trust: The Stretch IRA AlternativeThe SECURE Act killed the stretch IRA, but a properly constructed charitable remainder trust can deliver similar benefits, with some caveats.
-
Is A Recession Looming? Two Big Bank CEOs See It That WayRecession is likely, Citi's CEO told a Senate panel today, a sentiment echoed by JP Morgan's chief executive last week.
-
More Signs of Belt-Tightening and a Slowing Economy: The Kiplinger LetterThe Kiplinger Letter Although fewer banks are tightening lending standards, more businesses and households are feeling the squeeze.
-
The Era of Super-Low Interest Rates Could Be Over: The Kiplinger LetterThe Kiplinger Letter We’re likely never going back to the historically low rates that prevailed in late 2019 and early 2020.
-
The Fed Holds Interest Rates SteadyThe Fed cautions that inflation remains high and it is prepared to adjust its monetary policy ‘as appropriate if risks emerge.’
-
Banks Lost Billions on Bad Loans Last Quarter: Kiplinger Economic ForecastsEconomic Forecasts Bank deposits are also down, and more people are tapping into their savings.
-
Kiplinger Special Report: Key Business Costs for 2024Economic Forecasts Looking at business costs for 2024, expect slight cost increases across the board, from insurance rates to shipping expenses. Profits will be up, too.
-
What Is the Federal Funds Rate?The federal funds rate can impact a host of borrowing costs, and thus the entire U.S. economy.
-
Bond Basics: What the Ratings Meaninvesting Knowing the creditworthiness of your bond issuer can help limit the risk of default and maximize yield.
