What is one disadvantage of a money market account?
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.
Money market accounts are savings accounts that often offer higher interest rates than regular savings accounts and often incorporate checking account features, like easy access to cash. Yet they can also have downsides: Many have minimum balance requirements and excessive fees.
The biggest risk a money market account poses is that your money may lose value over time to inflation. Depending on inflation and the interest rate you earn with your money market account, inflation may outpace your MMA's earnings.
Bottom line. Money market accounts are an attractive option to consider if you're seeking a savings product that earns interest, offers more withdrawal options and is insured as long as you're within federal insurance limits and guidelines.
A money market account is a type of savings account that provides liquidity and earns interest on the principal. You cannot lose the balance of a money market account, although penalty fees may be charged for not meeting balance and withdrawal requirements.
- Your Money Could Earn More Elsewhere. High-risk investments could provide better returns in the long run. ...
- Your Funds Are Uninsured. If you open a CD or a checking, savings or money market account from a bank, your funds are FDIC-insured. ...
- You Can Expect Fees.
What Are the Benefits of Money Market Accounts? Some of the benefits of MMAs include higher interest rates, insurance protection, check-writing, and debit card privileges.
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.
Savings accounts generally lack the minimum deposit and balance requirements many money market accounts have. However, money markets typically offer higher interest rates than regular savings accounts, letting you earn more on your saved money.
Money market accounts are ideal for storing funds for shorter-term savings goals, such as saving up for a new car or a vacation. You'll not only earn interest on your savings, but you'll also be able to conveniently make payments directly from your account.
When should you open a money market account?
But if the money market's rate is higher than the savings account, or you need to make an occasional purchase from the account, and you can meet any minimum balance requirement, it could be a good idea to open a money market account.
If you're using your money market account as your emergency fund, experts recommend keeping at least three to six months' worth of expenses accessible.
Banks often require a minimum deposit to open the account, then a minimum balance to keep in the account. It's usually much higher than regular savings accounts. This often means $5,000, but can be up to $10,000 at some banks. As stated above, you need to pay a fee if your balance dips below the minimum requirement.
So, your money is never really stuck. However, MMAs sometimes charge small penalties if your balance drops below a certain amount or you make more withdrawals than agreed. So, you may withdraw your funds at any time, but some withdrawals can lower your money's earning potential.
If you want to maximize how much interest you earn on your savings, a money market account can be a good option compared to other savings accounts because it usually earns a higher rate of interest. Plus, if you need quick access to your money, you can do so in a variety of ways.
Where to put money during a recession. Putting money in savings accounts, money market accounts, and CDs keeps your money safe in an FDIC-insured bank account (or NCUA-insured credit union account). Alternatively, invest in the stock market with a broker. Let's go over each of these options.
How do Money Market Funds Fail? There are many ways these funds fail: “breaking the buck,” forced liquidation, parent company bailout, frozen investments (illiquid), segregating bad assets, and failure to comply with investment policies are some of the main issues this paper will explore.
Currency markets generally are not as regulated as securities markets. High yield fixed income securities are considered to be speculative and are subject to greater risk of loss, greater sensitivity to economic changes, valuation difficulties and potential illiquidity.
For the most part, money markets provide those with funds—banks, money managers, and retail investors—a means for safe, liquid, short-term investments, and they offer borrowers—banks, broker-dealers, hedge funds, and nonfinancial corporations—access to low-cost funds.
Cash equivalents are financial instruments that are almost as liquid as cash and are popular investments for millionaires. Examples of cash equivalents are money market mutual funds, certificates of deposit, commercial paper and Treasury bills. Some millionaires keep their cash in Treasury bills.
What kind of money market account is best?
Bank | APY* | Great for |
---|---|---|
EverBank | 4.30% | Savers who don't want to worry about fees or minimum opening deposits |
Redneck Bank | 4.90% | Savers who have at least $500 on hand |
Sallie Mae Bank | 4.65% | Savers who can keep $100 in their account |
UFB Direct | 5.25% | Savers who can maintain a $5,000 balance |
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.
- High-yield savings accounts.
- Money market funds.
- Short-term certificates of deposit.
- Series I savings bonds.
- Treasury bills, notes, bonds and TIPS.
- Corporate bonds.
- Dividend-paying stocks.
- Preferred stocks.
Bank | Forbes Advisor Rating | Learn More |
---|---|---|
Chase Bank | 5.0 | Learn More Read Our Full Review |
Bank of America | 4.2 | |
Wells Fargo Bank | 4.0 | Learn More Read Our Full Review |
Citi® | 4.0 |
Certificates of deposit (CDs) issued by banks and credit unions also carry deposit insurance. U.S. government securities–such as Treasury notes, bills, and bonds–have historically been considered extremely safe because the U.S. government has never defaulted on its debt.
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