What's the catch with a money market account?
Money market accounts tend to pay you higher interest rates than other types of savings accounts. On the other hand, money market accounts usually limit the number of transactions you can make by check, debit card, or electronic transfer.
Many accounts have monthly fees
Another drawback to remember is that while they have high yields, money market accounts can also come with cumbersome fees. Many banks and credit unions will impose monthly fees just for the upkeep of your account.
Because you earn higher interest rates than with a traditional savings account, a money market account can be a great choice to set aside some emergency cash or start building your savings. And unlike a traditional savings account, you have more options for withdrawing your money when you want it.
Currently, money market funds pay between 4.47% and 4.87% in interest. With that, you can earn between $447 to $487 in interest on $10,000 each year. Certificates of deposit (CDs). CDs are offered by financial institutions for set periods of time.
- Some institutions require high minimum balances to open an account or avoid fees.
- Rates are lower compared with some high-yield savings accounts.
- Access to money with checks and debit cards could encourage impulse spending, which might make it harder to save.
However, this only happens very rarely, but because money market funds are not FDIC-insured, meaning that money market funds can lose money.
Money market accounts offer flexibility with check-writing and debit cards, savings accounts are more accessible and have lower fees, and CDs offer higher interest rates but with a commitment to keep your money locked away for a set period of time. To make the best choice, consider your financial goals and situation.
Some money market accounts come with minimum account balances to be able to earn the higher rate of interest. Six to 12 months of living expenses are typically recommended for the amount of money that should be kept in cash in these types of accounts for unforeseen emergencies and life events.
(2) Maintaining an emergency reserve. Having money outside of retirement accounts can act as a personal safety net to get through financial hurdles, such as a period of unemployment or an unbudgeted large expense. We recommend an amount that could cover three to six months of expenses.
Both CDs and MMAs are federally insured savings accounts, so they're equally safe. Up to at least $250,000 gets insured in your name across your individually owned accounts at one bank or credit union. (Learn more about federal deposit insurance.)
How much will $50,000 make in a money market account?
Money Market Account
Banks and credit unions offer money market accounts currently paying about 2%, which would produce $1,000 in interest on $50,000 over a year. Find the best current rates using SmartAsset's online money market account comparison tool.
- Northern Bank Direct – 4.95% APY.
- All America Bank – 4.90% APY.
- Redneck Bank – 4.90% APY.
- First Foundation Bank – 4.90% APY.
- Sallie Mae Bank – 4.65% APY.
- Prime Alliance Bank – 4.50% APY.
- Presidential Bank – 4.37% APY.
- EverBank – 4.30% APY.
Summary: An investment of $10000 today invested at 6% for five years at simple interest will be $13,000.
7% Interest Savings Accounts: What You Need To Know. Why Trust Us? As of April 2024, no banks are offering 7% interest rates on savings accounts. Two credit unions have high-interest checking accounts: Landmark Credit Union Premium Checking with 7.50% APY and OnPath Credit Union High Yield Checking with 7.00% APY.
Money market accounts and savings accounts are equally safe places for consumers to keep their savings. However, it's important to open accounts at banks that are covered by FDIC insurance. You can check if your bank is FDIC-insured here.
Money market funds can protect your assets during a recession, but only as a temporary fix and not for long-term growth. In times of economic uncertainty, money market funds offer liquidity for cash reserves that can help you build your portfolio.
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.
You can lose money to fees: If your account charges a monthly fee that you can't get waived, or you end up dealing with other fees, such as excessive withdrawal penalties, your account balance could drop if the fees exceed the interest you earn in the account.
However, money market funds are not suitable for long term investment goals, like retirement planning. This is because they don't offer much capital appreciation.
If you're looking to earn more interest, a CD usually offers higher rates than a money market account. While rates on both CDs and money market accounts are variable, CDs usually have fixed rates. That means you can lock in a higher interest rate on money that you won't need to access soon.
Is it better to put money in a CD or money market?
CDs and money market accounts are both safe ways to earn more interest on your cash. With a CD, you can get a higher interest rate if you can leave the money untouched for a fixed term. With a money market account, you can get a great interest rate while still maintaining the use of your savings.
| Top Nationwide Rate (APY) | Balance at Maturity | |
|---|---|---|
| 6 months | 5.76% | $ 10,288 |
| 1 year | 6.18% | $ 10,618 |
| 18 months | 5.80% | $ 10,887 |
| 2 year | 5.60% | $ 11,151 |
Key takeaways
Disadvantages of money market accounts may include hefty minimum balance requirements and monthly fees — and you might be able to find better yields with other deposit accounts.
The rule is to split your after-tax income into three categories of spending: 50% on needs, 30% on wants, and 20% on savings. 1. This intuitive and straightforward rule can help you draw up a reasonable budget that you can stick to over time in order to meet your financial goals.
A stock portfolio focused on dividends can generate $1,000 per month or more in perpetual passive income, Mircea Iosif wrote on Medium. “For example, at a 4% dividend yield, you would need a portfolio worth $300,000.
