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

What is a better investment, CD or money market? ›

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. Depending on your needs and timeline, either could be a great fit.

How often does VMFXX pay out? ›

Over the course of the month, VMFXX collects income from the investments it owns (more on this later), which it then pays out on the first trading day of the following month.

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.

Should I keep money in my settlement fund Vanguard? ›

You should consider keeping some money in your settlement fund so you're ready to trade. You can use your settlement fund to buy mutual funds and ETFs (exchange-traded funds) from Vanguard and other companies, as well as stocks, CDs (certificates of deposit), and bonds.

How much does a $10,000 CD make in a year? ›

Earnings on a $10,000 CD Over Different Terms
Term LengthAverage APYInterest earned on $10,000 at maturity
1 year1.81%$181
2 years1.54%$310.37
3 years1.41%$428.99
4 years1.32%$538.55
1 more row
Apr 24, 2024

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 is the current return on VMFXX? ›

Total returns
as of 04/30/20241 MONTHYTD as of 04/30/2024
VMFXX0.45%1.76%
BenchmarkU.S. Government Money Market Funds Average3— 2

How long should you hold a money market fund? ›

Money market funds are usually considered to be safe investments, but it's important to remember that these investments are intended for the short term. With maturities of 13 months or less, the funds stay liquid and allow you better access to your money than longer-term investments.

What is the best money market fund right now? ›

Our picks at a glance
RankFundMinimum investment
1Vanguard Federal Money Market Fund (VMFXX)$3,000
2Schwab Value Advantage Money Fund Investor Shares (SWVXX)$0
3PIMCO Government Money Market Fund (AMAXX)$1,000
4Vanguard Cash Reserves Federal Money Market Fund Admiral Shares (VMRXX)$3,000
3 more rows
Mar 18, 2024

How much money should I keep in my checking account? ›

A common rule of thumb for how much to keep in checking is one to two months' worth of expenses. If your monthly expenses are $4,000, for instance, you'd want to keep $8,000 in checking. Keeping one to two months' of expenses in checking can help you to stay ahead of monthly bills.

Can a money market account lose money? ›

Since money market accounts are insured by the FDIC or the NCUA, you cannot lose the money you contribute to the account—even in the event of a bank failure. You can, however, be subject to fees and penalties that reduce your earnings.

Should you keep money in money market? ›

While money market funds aren't ideal for long-term investing due to their low returns and lack of capital appreciation, they offer a stable, secure investment option for individuals looking to invest for the short term.

Why are investors pulling money from Vanguard? ›

When the market cratered, investors withdrew $16.4 billion from Vanguard's index mutual funds. What accounts for remaining index mutual fund outflows? Johnson says it could be clients pulling out money because they're retiring, or because they're negatively affected by the pandemic.

What happens to my money if Vanguard goes under? ›

In the unlikely event that we become insolvent, your money and investments would be returned to you as quickly as possible, or transferred to another provider. This is because your money and investments are held separately from our own.

Is Vanguard financially stable? ›

About Vanguard

Vanguard's mission is to "take a stand for all investors, to treat them fairly, and to give them the best chance for investment success."6 It prides itself on its stability, transparency, low costs, and risk management.

Which pays more, a CD or money market? ›

CDs tend to have higher rates than money market accounts and give no access to your money until a term ends. Funds get locked up for a set period of months or years, and withdrawing early typically results in a penalty, such as several months to a year's worth of interest. Most often, CD rates are fixed.

What is safer, money market or CDs? ›

Both money market funds and CDs are relatively safe investments, delivering an income stream in the form of interest or dividends. Money market funds are generally more liquid than bank or brokered CDs.

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.

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.

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