I'm looking for an account that pays more interest than I can get at the "big" banks. I don't know if I should lock up these low rates in a CD. The stock market appears to be bi-polar to me right now, so I don't want to put more money there. Any suggestions?
Answers
As for whether to lock up in a CD, well, Bernanke says the Fed will keep rates down AT LEAST into the middle of 2013 -- so that gives you guidance that rates cannot be expected to rise before that absent something unexpected, and don't plan on any big rise right at that point. Thus, the rates out there now are about the best you can expect for some time to come.
You are right about the stock market -- it is a roller coaster. Plenty of threat to the downside by the Europe mess, which will continue for at least the next full year. But that is balanced to some degree by US businesses actually being in reasonable positions, with lots of money on hand. But stocks are another world from a bank account as they are not backed by the government insurance, nor are other typical investments.
Outside of banks and credit unions, your principle is at risk. Inn some others that probably are safe, such as TIPS (which I don't really appreciate or understand), your return could be at risk if not your principle. So, one first question for you is whether you are willing to consider any such risk for this money. If not, then you are pretty much looking at a bank or credit union.
For best rates at a bank or credit union, watch this blog of course. And check the CD dropdown menu at the top of the page. One that is consistently at the high side, as noted regularly in this blog, is Alliant Credit Union. You might find a better rate on a CD at any particular time, though, and that rate would be locked in, so whether that bank is consistently high on CDs or not would not be an issue.
Apologize if I missed soemthing...:-)
I have the 5k electronic & 5k paper I bonds. Ken, thanks for keeping us informed on those.
I have some dividend yielding stocks but days when the market is down big like today, I'm concerned.
me1004, I think rather than the shoe box, buying non-perishable inelastic demand items will give me the biggest return on my money with the inflation that I am seeing in the stores.
I still don't like the idea of tying money up for 5 years at maybe 2%.
As things are now, a shoe box might be as good a place as any. And I'm only half kidding.
As for whether to lock up in a CD, well, Bernanke says the Fed will keep rates down AT LEAST into the middle of 2013 -- so that gives you guidance that rates cannot be expected to rise before that absent something unexpected, and don't plan on any big rise right at that point. Thus, the rates out there now are about the best you can expect for some time to come.
You are right about the stock market -- it is a roller coaster. Plenty of threat to the downside by the Europe mess, which will continue for at least the next full year. But that is balanced to some degree by US businesses actually being in reasonable positions, with lots of money on hand. But stocks are another world from a bank account as they are not backed by the government insurance, nor are other typical investments.
Outside of banks and credit unions, your principle is at risk. In some others that probably are safe, such as TIPS (which I don't really appreciate or understand), your return could be at risk if not your principle. So, one first question for you is whether you are willing to consider any such risk for this money. If not, then you are pretty much looking at a bank or credit union.
For best rates at a bank or credit union, watch this blog of course. And check the CD dropdown menu at the top of the page. One that is consistently at the high side, as noted regularly in this blog, is Alliant Credit Union. You might find a better rate on a CD at any particular time, though, and that rate would be locked in, so whether that bank is consistently high on CDs or not would not be an issue.