Tracking Sheet For Cds?

JustLearning | Jul 10, 2023 | 24 posts since 2023

How does everyone keep track of all of their CDs? Spreadsheets? Institution name, login, acct number, amount, yield, maturity, etc?

I have set reminders on my phone to scout for rates when a CD is ready to mature, but I'd like to automate that. I just wondered if there is a template that DA followers use. Between the scraps of paper that have all the institutional conversation info, follow ups with banks/CUs, etc. and file folders, my tracking is still very manual. Apologies for the newbie question.

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Answers

racecar | Jul 10, 2023 | 616 posts since 2014

Old fashioned way:
(1) In one particular drawer I keep individual envelopes for each bank or credit union I deal with, with their paperwork inside. On the outside of each envelope I then write in pencil the CD maturity dates (and erase them once they mature).
(2) In the drawer I also have a sheet on which I divide into grids for each year (2023, 2024, 2025 etc) and in each year's grid, write the place & maturity date.
(3) Each year on the day when I buy my new wall calendar, I immediately write every maturity date down for that year (I just bought my 2024 wall calendar and wrote in everything for 2024 last week). With the wall calendar facing me every day, I see each month which CDs will be maturing that month (if any).

And if I ever need an overview of everything I just take out that sheet that lists them all, separated by year.
Old fashioned, but it works for me.

gsquare | Jul 10, 2023 | 47 posts since 2022

(1 and 2) I do the same for the first two steps.
(3) Instead of a calendar I put the CDs in chronological order on a sheet of paper(s) and leave a
couple spaces in between for additions. I also add the FI and amount.
(4) On a half sheet of unlined paper I put down each year and under that put the maturity date and
amount. I leave this on my desk so I can look at it frequently and plan.
(5) I LET MY WIFE KNOW WHERE ALL THIS IS IN CASE I DIE. You never know.

LongTimeDAFan | Jul 10, 2023 | 69 posts since 2022

I keep everything manual on a spreadsheet and update it monthly. For CDs, I have a section that contains bank name, acct number, maturity date, rate, current value and date of last update, along with account titling (joint, individual, POD, etc). I keep that list in chronological order of maturity date, so I can see when CDs are coming due. I am a bit OCD with our finances, so the spreadsheet is my back-up info for my husband in case anything happens to me. As far as passwords, I don't keep those anywhere near our account info, and every one is separate and distinct. And I keep any paperwork for each CU in a separate manila folder. Keep in mind that the FI will mail you a maturity letter 10 days prior to maturity. I don't keep track of any of this thru Quicken, but I do use Quicken for balancing my accounts. I'm old school, a bit, but it's been working for me for decades. Keep it simple and keep it secure.

Ltssharon | Jul 11, 2023 | 471 posts since 2020

I think I will change, and within my household, never store a paper copy of the passwords any where near the paper copy of the account number, But my excel spreadsheet is "encrypted" so I feel ok if both the account number and the passwords are in the same spreadsheet. I admire that you have all different passwords.

JustLearning | Jul 11, 2023 | 24 posts since 2023

Thank you to everyone! Really great and reassuring comments. Glad to know I am not too far off. I will use the column suggestions for sure.

gkwpnut | Jul 10, 2023 | 13 posts since 2022

Excel spreadsheet in order of maturity

BANK/CU ACCOUNT# APY% MATURES OWNER AMOUNT MONTHLY.INT.

fliegeroh | Jul 10, 2023 | 116 posts since 2022

Yes, just a basic spreadsheet that has grown over the years.

retiredprof | Jul 11, 2023 | 13 posts since 2022

Agree with spreadsheets. Easy to rearrange entries to list in chronological order for date of maturity. Whether one uses MS Excel, Apple numbers, or Google Sheets (Google Docs), it makes it very easy to keep track of yield, due dates, and comments ("no grace period, contact 5 days ahead to redeem"). It is easier to do brokered CD's through Schwab, Fidelity, etc which simplifies the whole process., avoids dealing with auto renewals at lower rates and delays in transfer of funds.
But, with recent CD rates of 5.5% to 6%, it was worth the effort to enroll directly with banks/CU.

Suggested Spreadsheet columns: Due Date / Name of Institution / Amount /Apy % / Comments or Norwa

Spreadsheets permit one to easily tell due dates, add comments (contact by phone, EWP, etc) . Reminders on phone calendar also helpful. Keep any account numbers/login info stored separately.
Banks will notify you by mail when due, but do not rely on this. Best to be proactive, since some banks/CUs do not have a grace period at time of renewal.

CDMD | Jul 11, 2023 | 141 posts since 2022

I also agree with spread sheet. But I sort my investments first between tax deferred and non tax deferred. Then by institution to watch for insurance limits. Additionally columns beyond institution name the account title beneficiaries and maturity date, rate and annual estimated earnings ( for use in estimated quarterly tax payment) I also add a column for the penalty rules and a column for original deposit amount to see what accumulated interest is available for further investment opportunities or in case of emergency liquidity needs beyond normal liquidity. Penalty column helps with identifying which cd might be eligible for breakage in rising rates. Hope my added columns spark some thoughts for others. I update the spread sheet no less than monthly and Archive it for comparison purposes over time.

Confused1 | Jul 10, 2023 | 87 posts since 2018

I use Quicken but I'm no longer a subscriber due to constant issues with downloads not working. I just update my file manually. I name each CD with the bank and maturity date for example NavyFederal_05.21.24 or Ally_12.23.25

Also consider opening a Fidelity account where all your CD purchases are in the same place and all show on your dashboard. Each bank is FDIC insured to $250,000. Fidelity sends you a reminder a month before maturity and when matured the funds drop into your settlement account ready for immediate redeployment to a new CD or Treasury Investment. They still offer $100 for opening a new account with $50 https://www.fidelity.com/go/special-offer

GH1 | Jul 10, 2023 | 1,053 posts since 2017

Yes fidelity very nice

txFish1 | Jul 10, 2023 | 476 posts since 2023

I second the motion on Fidelity! If you have multiple CDs and savings the Fidelity account is very handy

Ltssharon | Jul 11, 2023 | 471 posts since 2020

I use a spreadsheet I made up. It has lots of columns onto which I put place, owner (me or my trust) , *trad or roth (if IRAs), amount, interest rate, maturity date (I have regretted not putting a purchase date), early withdrawal penalties, details, phone numbers and contact information, account number, passwords. I have one row for each "thing", cd, treasury, brokerage account, treasury bill, ibond, etc.
I also have included on the spreadsheet some unrelated information, using the same columns, for example doctors, etc. I use one particular non meaningful date for all of these in the maturity date .column, For savings and checking and money market accounts, which do not have a maturity, I use one other non-meaningful date. I use a header in row 1. Right now there are 185 rows. I sort all of these in excel using DATA SORT; normally I sort by PLACE. By doing this, I can easily make sure I don't go over FDIC limits. However, I also sort by MATURITY Date. This sort is my TODO list.
When something matures, I change the amount to 0, and leave the row in there until a new year. because it comes in handy to calculate taxes, etc. When I buy something new, I insert a new row.
This is an easy method truly. Oh, I keep weekly backups on thumbdrives, and intermittently put an updated thumbdrive in my safety deposit box. Also, I give the excel file an extra security password, so only I or someone who knows the password can open the excel file.

betaguy | Jul 10, 2023 | 180 posts since 2022

I use Apple numbers which comes with Macs. It's all manual input.
If I was on Microsoft system, I'd probably use quicken.

SailorBoy | Jul 10, 2023 | 12 posts since 2020

betaguy, Don't understand what's meant by 'apple numbers', but IF you use Mac computer, it's my understanding Quicken makes a "Mac Friendly" version. Doesn't have all bells and whistles of WIndows version though. Home & Business not included for example.

betaguy | Jul 10, 2023 | 180 posts since 2022

SB, 'Numbers' is a nifty spreadsheet program that comes with all Macs. Quicken, in general, has become too troublesome (and costly) as far as I can tell. The subscription model just pisses me off. I've never tried it on a Mac but any reviews I've seen are not too good.

Ratesaver | Jul 11, 2023 | 187 posts since 2013

I have been doing just as most of you guys without a spreadsheet but my own hand written paperwork with all the same but I have been doing it for since 2004. I am tired of all the changes of my accounts lately because of the recent uptick in cd rates. I recently have found myself indulged in papers that I have to zip. Not easy but I have been able to eliminate the middle man and pay them for doing what I have been doing ... Banks , Credit Unions have been making penalties longer that cost me this yr because I always go long and got stung a few times ..Good luck

Ltssharon | Jul 11, 2023 | 471 posts since 2020

I am very stung by EWP this year myself, and it sure does help. The EWPs are enough to make a considerable difference in taxes. I figured this filling out a pretend tax form myself. It was a lot of work, but worth it considering the discouragement of the EWP situation.

Ally6770 | Jul 12, 2023 | 4,292 posts since 2010

I purchased a pile of ledger books of spreadsheets at the $1 store in the early 90's. They had 13 sections across and 40 lines down and 8 spaces for numbers within each of the 13 columns plus a date column and after that a 2 inch space to write anything. Each book has 50 pages printed on each side. At the top of each of the 13 columns and the the date column and the 2 inch column there are 3 lines in each of those spaces to write something for the column header. It is the same on each side of the page. When the book is open I have 26 column across.
I used to keep one CD on each page. Now I section everything off with Reg CD's, Traditional IRA's, Roth IRA's, inherited IRA from my mother from 2006 with the traditional IRA's, checking accounts, saving accounts, and I bonds. In each column I put the institutions name, the phone number, when it matures, and the APY. I highlight the maturity for each year with a different color and transfer it to the calendar. I have. One the calendar I have, one color for birthdays, for anniversaries, for deaths, for doc appt's, for dentist appts, and for maturing CD's etc. The calendar opens up the size of the old phone books one month is on the calendar when you open it with each side having 1/2 of each of the month when it is open with lines in each box of each day of the month. I get those at the $1 store also that is now $1.25 or is it $1.35. I use those purchases at that store for my debits for my reward checking account. The new calendars should be out this month for next year. They also have the big desk size calendars most years. In each column of the spreadsheet I also put the interest earned on for the first 6 months of the year of part year, the balance of each account in a column on July 1, and Jan 1 with the interest earned for the year on 3 of the columns. Have done this since 1995 and we started out with a total of $130,000 including our 401k and the accumulated pension we had and now it is nearly 2 million, even after disclaiming all my husbands 401k, his pension, and the money from our home when we sold it a few months after we moved to town after we had a house built, even with gifting the children each Jan since the early 1990's. The pages in the ledger book are 11x17 and the book fits in the middle drawer of my desk. I go to the Office Depot to have copies made. I make sure the children have copies of everything but the total in the accounts in their notebooks along with copies from each account that they are the beneficiaries. If I ever get close to running out of the ledger books of spreadsheets, I probably will have the blank ones copied on both sides. With this system, I can total the interest of the taxable accounts in July so I kind of know what my income will be for the year in Jan. for IRMMA and double check it the first of Dec so I know how much I can convert to a Roth. I like to use the Papermate Eraser Mate pens. They usually can be erased for a day or so. So if I put something in the wrong column I can erase it. I wish the pens would come in colors. I have had the same pens since before we moved to town in 2011. At one time I took care of our accounts, for the township when I was treasurer for 23 years, and the union's money when my husband was financial sec treasurer as just an aside job. This is similar what I did at the bank for 30 years before computers for certain functions while working 2 jobs.
The township and the union I had a different system but used the same ledger books. I could see every deposit, each check written where it was deposited and what the check was written for and to whom for each month. I still prefer the ledger spreadsheets over the computer. My son helped me set them up on a thumb drive and I thought I would like it and I took it out with doing what I was suppose to do and I think I lost all my work. He comes to visit a couple of times a year for 2-3 months and will work downstairs on the 96 inch dining room table with his 8 computers and monitors stacked. He will be back in the fall and I can do it again. Maybe I should see if I can turn the thumb drive off and leave it in. I am just so risk adverse I didn't want to leave it in.

shortround | Jul 18, 2023 | 3 posts since 2023

Right now I have CDs, MM, IBond, TBills, treasury bills.
I have a simple google sheets page that lists them by maturity. Works ok so far.

happyharold4 | Jul 20, 2023 | 388 posts since 2022

Very old school here. Just a lined notebook. Each FI gets it's own page. On the no penalty accounts I use pencil and just erase old ones and add in the new. I have a filing cabinet so I set up a file for each FI by name, then I go to the online accounts and print a copy of my statement and add it to the file. Not each month but at least once to have a record of the existence of the account.

Ally6770 | Jul 20, 2023 | 4,292 posts since 2010

How do you track when each are due?
Do you mark them on a calendar? Your phone or computer?

happyharold4 | Jul 20, 2023 | 388 posts since 2022

I have a paper pad on my desk with nothing but maturity dates on it and from it I update each annual calendar. I also verify with each FI that indeed they have it on file to predestine the accounts to close into savings and not roll over. I print out that confirmation and add it to proper FI file. Most of us too buy with other stuff to keep messing with all of it---So for me that's enough oversight.

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