Cash Investments – CDs, Money Markets and More | Vanguard (2024)

*Bank Sweep program balances are held at one or more Program Banks and are not cash balances held by Vanguard Brokerage Services® (VBS®), earn a variable rate of interest, and are not securities covered by SIPC. Bank Sweep deposits are covered by FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per insurable category of ownership at each Program Bank, when aggregated with all other deposits held by you at such bank and in the same insurable category. VBS will aggregate and allocate Bank Sweep deposits to Program Banks across Vanguard Cash Plus and Vanguard Cash Deposit with identically registered accounts to offer maximum FDIC coverage up to $1.25 million for individual and trust accounts and $2.5 million for joint accounts when at least 5 Program Banks are utilized. VBS will aggregate and allocate Bank Sweep deposits for trust accounts at the account level and not at the beneficiary level. FDIC coverage may be decreased based on Program Bank limits and whether you've opted out of any Program Banks and is subject to applicable FDIC coverage limits. You are solely responsible for monitoring the aggregate amount that you have on deposit at each Program Bank in connection with FDIC limits, including through other accounts at VBS. See theVanguard Bank Sweep Products Terms of Use (PDF) and participating Program Banks (PDF) for more information. For more information about FDIC insurance coverage, please visit fdic.gov.

Bank deposits and CDs are guaranteed (within limits) as to principal and interest by an agency of the federal government.

Bank accounts can offer more liquidity, ATM access, and overdraft protection. You should consider all material differences before choosing to invest.

Although the income from municipal bonds held by a fund is exempt from federal tax, you may owe taxes on any capital gains realized through the fund's trading or through your own redemption of shares. For some investors, a portion of the fund's income may be subject to state and local taxes, as well as to the federal Alternative Minimum Tax.

All investing is subject to risk, including the possible loss of the money you invest.

Savings accounts may have characteristics that differentiate them from Bank Sweep programs offered by Vanguard Cash Plus. For example, they may offer overdraft protection, ATM access (immediate access to your money), and other convenience features. Each company's products differ, so it's important to ask questions to understand account features.

There may be other material differences between products that must be considered prior to investing.

The Vanguard Cash Plus Account is a brokerage account offered by Vanguard Brokerage Services, a division of Vanguard Marketing Corporation, member FINRA and SIPC. Under the Sweep Program, Eligible Balances swept to Program Banks are not securities: they are not covered by SIPC, but are eligible for FDIC insurance, subject to applicable limits. Money market funds held in the account are not guaranteed or insured by the FDIC, but are securities eligible for SIPC coverage. See theVanguard Bank Sweep Products Terms of Use (PDF) and Program Bank list (PDF)for more information.

When you are enrolled in the Vanguard Cash Deposit program, Eligible Balances that are swept to Program Banks are not securities: They are not covered by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) but are eligible for insurance by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Eligible Balances swept to Program Banks are the obligations of each Program Bank and are not cash balances held by Vanguard Brokerage Services (VBS). See the Vanguard Bank Sweep Products Terms of Use (PDF)for more information. Assets swept to Vanguard Federal Money Market Fund are held by VBS, a division of Vanguard Marketing Corporation, member FINRA and SIPC. These assets are not covered by FDIC insurance. See the Vanguard Brokerage Account Agreement (PDF)for more information. You are responsible for monitoring the total assets you hold at each Program Bank for FDIC coverage and limitations. These total assets will include not only Eligible Balances under the Bank Sweep but also any other deposits you may hold at those banks. For more information about FDIC insurance coverage, please visit fdic.gov.

All brokered CDs may fluctuate in value between purchase date and maturity date. CDs may be sold on the secondary market, which may be limited, prior to maturity subject to market conditions. Any CD sold prior to maturity may be subject to a substantial gain or loss. Vanguard Brokerage does not make a market in brokered CDs. The original face amount of the purchase is not guaranteed if the position is sold prior to maturity. CDs are subject to availability. As of July 21, 2010, all CDs are federally insured up to $250,000 per depositor, per bank. In determining the applicable insurance limits, the FDIC aggregates accounts held at the issuer, including those held through different broker-dealers or other intermediaries. For additional details regarding coverage eligibility, visit fdic.gov. Vanguard Brokerage imposes a $1,000 minimum for CDs purchased through Vanguard Brokerage. Yields are calculated as simple interest, not compounded. Brokered CDs do not need to be held to maturity, charge no penalties for redemption, and have limited liquidity in a secondary market. If a CD has a step rate, the interest rate of the CD may be higher or lower than prevailing market rates. Step-rate CDs are subject to secondary market risk and often will include a call provision by the issuer that would subject the investor to reinvestment risk. The initial rate of a step-rate CD cannot be used to calculate the yield to maturity. If a CD has a call provision, the issuer has sole discretion whether to call the CD. If an issuer calls a CD, there is a risk to the investor that the investor will be forced to reinvest at a less favorable interest rate. Vanguard Brokerage makes no judgment as to the creditworthiness of the issuing institution and does not recommend or endorse CDs in any way.

You could lose money by investing in a money market fund. Although the fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1 per share, it cannot guarantee it will do so. An investment in the fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The fund's sponsor has no legal obligation to provide financial support to the fund, and you should not expect that the sponsor will provide financial support to the fund at any time.

For more information about Vanguard mutual funds or Vanguard ETFs, obtain a mutual fund or an ETF prospectus or, if available, a summary prospectus. Investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses, and other important information about a fund are contained in the prospectus; read and consider it carefully before investing.

Cash Investments – CDs, Money Markets and More | Vanguard (2024)

FAQs

Is it better to put money in a CD or money market? ›

Money market accounts provide access to funds and offer interest rates similar to regular savings accounts. CDs earn more interest over time but have restricted access to funds until maturity. Money market accounts are a better option when you need to withdraw cash.

What does Dave Ramsey say about CDs? ›

Ramsey has referred to certificates of deposit as "nothing more than glorified savings accounts with slightly higher interest rates." Ramsey warned that you shouldn't invest in CDs because average rates won't keep pace with inflation and because they aren't a good place to grow your money.

What are cash and cash investments? ›

Cash investments, also called cash equivalents, are short-term investments that earn interest, figured as a percentage of your principal. One key difference between cash investments and other investments is their liquidity, which means they can be converted to cash quickly and easily with little or no loss of value.

What is a better investment than the money market? ›

Short-term bonds typically yield higher interest rates than money market funds, so the potential to earn more income over time is greater.

What is a disadvantage to putting your money into a CD? ›

Penalties: One of the main drawbacks of CDs is that in most cases you're locked into the maturity term. If you take money from the CD before it matures, you will get hit with a penalty fee equal to at least seven days of the interest earned or even more. 6.

What is the downside of a money market account? ›

Indirectly losing money, however, is a downside of money market accounts. Indirect loss can occur if the interest rates tied to the account fall, thus diminishing the initial return value of your account.

What does Warren Buffett say about CDs? ›

Warren Buffett famously deemed them “financial weapons of mass destruction,” and others compared them to taking out fire insurance on a neighbor's home. But the CDS market may be improving transparency in the stock and bond markets.

What does Suze Orman say about CDs? ›

But not everyone needs a CD, Orman and other pros say

As great as the certificate offers are today, I don't want you putting all your emergency savings into a certificate. That's because if you need the money during the year, you will pay a penalty for making an early withdrawal,” says Orman.

What if I put $20,000 in a CD for 5 years? ›

So, no matter which 5-year CD you choose, you're going to earn between $4,000 and $4,700 on a $20,000 deposit at today's best rates. Keep in mind, you have to pay taxes on CD interest, so your total return could be less. Still, this is a decent return for a relatively risk-free investment.

What is the best cash investment right now? ›

11 best investments right now
  • High-yield savings accounts.
  • Certificates of deposit (CDs)
  • Bonds.
  • Money market funds.
  • Mutual funds.
  • Index Funds.
  • Exchange-traded funds.
  • Stocks.
4 days ago

How much money should I keep in cash? ›

While you're working, we recommend you set aside at least $1,000 for emergencies to start and then build up to an amount that can cover three to six months of expenses. When you've retired, consider a cash reserve that might help cover one to two years of spending needs.

Is Charles Schwab in financial trouble? ›

Schwab felt the worst of it from August 2022 through April 2023, when its bank account deposit balances plummeted by nearly $50 billion, or 32%. In other words, clients pulled funds from their bank accounts at Schwab at a pace of $5.6 billion per month to take advantage of higher-interest-earning assets.

What is the riskiest way to invest your money? ›

The 10 Riskiest Investments
  • Options. An option allows a trader to hold a leveraged position in an asset at a lower cost than buying shares of the asset. ...
  • Futures. ...
  • Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling. ...
  • Limited Partnerships. ...
  • Penny Stocks. ...
  • Alternative Investments. ...
  • High-Yield Bonds. ...
  • Leveraged ETFs.

How much should I have in my checking account? ›

The general rule of thumb is to try to have one or two months' of living expenses in it at all times. Some experts recommend adding 30 percent to this number as an extra cushion.

Can a money market account lose money? ›

There is no direct way to lose money in a money market account. However, it is possible to lose money indirectly. For example, if the interest rate you receive on your account balance can no longer keep up with any penalty fees you may be assessed, the value of the account can fall below the initial deposit.

Are money CDs safe if the market crashes? ›

Are CDs safe if the market crashes? Putting your money in a CD doesn't involve putting your money in the stock market. Instead, it's in a financial institution, like a bank or credit union. So, in the event of a market crash, your CD account will not be impacted or lose value.

Why is CD not a good financial investment? ›

CD rates tend to lag behind rising inflation and drop more quickly than inflation on the way down. Because of that likelihood, investing in CDs carries the danger that your money will lose its purchasing power over time as your interest gains are overtaken by inflation.

Should I move money from stock market to CD? ›

A well-balanced portfolio typically has CDs and stocks

Here are a few reasons why: Diversification in your asset allocation can reduce risk: Stock investments come with more risk than CDs. However, when you add CDs to the mix, you may be able to reduce risk, increasing your risk-adjusted returns.

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