Is a money market account good for retirement?
While most retirement accounts focus on index funds, stocks, bonds and other assets, you can actually park your retirement money in an FDIC-insured money market account as well. This offers you the liquidity of a savings account while earning a higher yield on your money.
Disadvantages of money market accounts
For example, you often won't earn as much with a money market account as you would with a traditional CD because the CD has a time commitment: The bank will pay you more in exchange for locking up your funds longer.
While money market accounts are great for saving and managing your money, it's important to remember that a money market account is not considered an investment tool, and to build a long-term investment portfolio, consider opening a retirement account such as a 401(k) or Roth IRA.
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.
A money market account is also a deposit account that offers higher interest compared to a traditional savings account, but it also includes some capabilities more commonly found in traditional checking accounts, such as access to your funds via debit card or check.
Money market funds.
A money market fund is a mutual fund that invests in short-term debts. 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.
First and foremost, money market accounts are typically safe because they're insured by the federal government. If you open a money market account at a federally insured bank, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) insures up to $250,000 of your cash per bank, per depositor.
Market downturns can make you feel like you're even more behind in your savings goals. “We believe the key thing to do is to keep your 401(k) funds invested. If you take them out of the market, you may lock in losses and could miss out on opportunities for market rebounds.”
Moving your retirement savings to ultra-conservative funds in fear of bear markets is rarely a good idea. Fund types like a money market fund or a stable value fund pro- vide minimal returns, and in most cases, inflation is greater than any return a fund of that caliber will be able to produce.
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.
What does Dave Ramsey say about money market accounts?
I suggest a Money Market account with no penalties and full check-writing privileges for your emergency fund.
Income earned from money market fund interest is taxed as regular income, up to 37% depending on the investor's tax bracket. While some local and state taxes offer breaks on income earned from U.S. Treasury bonds, federal income tax still applies.
There's no risk of you losing your deposit with a money market account. While money market accounts are considered low-risk accounts, that doesn't mean there aren't small risks to be aware of. The biggest risk a money market account poses is that your money may lose value over time to inflation.
It might be worth investing in a money market account when you want a safe place to store your money with a higher interest rate than a checking account, while still having some liquidity features such as check writing. It's ideal for emergency funds or short-term savings goals.
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.
Savings accounts and money market deposit accounts are backed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and National Credit Union Association. Money market funds have no FDIC guarantee and have historically been vulnerable to runs on funds.
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.
There aren't any traditional banks offering a 7% interest savings account in the U.S., but you will find some credit unions that offer checking accounts and certificates with rates near or above 7.00% APY. It's important to note that savings account rates are variable and can change at any time.
| Type of 1-year CD | Typical APY | Interest on $100,000 after 1 year |
|---|---|---|
| CDs that pay competitive rates | 5.30% | $5,300 |
| CDs that pay the national average | 1.59% | $1,590 |
| CDs from big brick-and-mortar banks | 0.03% | $30 |
It's technically possible to lose money in a market account, but not in the same way you can lose money in an investment account. Depending on the terms of your money market account, you could lose value to fees and inflation.
How long should you keep money in a money market fund?
If you're saving for something you'll need the money for in less than three to five years, saving in a money market fund may make sense for you. Money market funds are ideal for short-term saving because they invest in highly liquid securities with the objective of capital preservation and income.
Your assets are protected at Schwab. We work hard to make Schwab a secure and safe place for your money. Whether you hold securities like stocks, bonds, mutual funds, exchange traded funds, or money market funds in a Schwab brokerage account, or cash deposits in a Schwab Bank account, we have your assets protected.
If you have substantial income from sources like a pension and Social Security, an $800,000 portfolio could last for many years. That's especially true if your expenses are low and you don't have significant health care expenses.
The safest place to put your retirement funds is in low-risk investments and savings options with guaranteed growth. Low-risk investments and savings options include fixed annuities, savings accounts, CDs, treasury securities, and money market accounts. Of these, fixed annuities usually provide the best interest rates.
The worst thing you can do to your 401(k) is to cash out if the market crashes. Market downturns are generally short and minimal compared to the rebounds that follow. As long as you hold on to your investments during a bear market, you haven't lost anything.
