Are CDs Worth It?

Pros and Cons of Investing in CDs

CDs have some benefits that make them appealing for some investors, but there are downsides too. Consider these pros and cons when deciding whether to open a CD.

Pros

• Safety: CDs are one of the safest places you can house your savings. You generally can't lose money in a CD, unless you withdraw your money early. And, a CD's interest rate is generally locked in until it matures, so you'll know in advance how much you can expect to earn.
• FDIC insurance: A CD opened at a bank insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) or a credit union insured by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) is insured for up to $250,000 per account holder, institution and ownership category.
• Varied options: There are many types of CDs to fit different investor needs, such as no-penalty CDs, brokered CDs and jumbo CDs.
• Laddering adds flexibility: CDs lend themselves well to creating a stream of steady income. One strategy is CD laddering, where you put money into different CDs with staggered maturity dates. Once a CD matures, you can renew it to continue earning. Or, you can withdraw your principal and earnings.

Cons

• Low liquidity: To maximize earnings from a CD, you'll need to let it mature. Taking money out before the term ends generally means forfeiting some or all of your interest to early withdrawal penalties.
• Relatively low returns: Money tied up in a CD is money you can't use to make more lucrative investments. Because a CD's interest rate is locked in, you can also miss out on opportunities to profit if interest rates rise.
• May require a minimum deposit: CDs typically require a minimum deposit, which may be $500 or more. If you don't have a chunk of change to start with, your options may be limited.
• Inflation risk: If the rate you earn on money in your CD doesn't keep pace with inflation, your savings will lose purchasing power over time.

Learn more: Pros and Cons of Certificates of Deposit

When CDs Are Worth It

Whether or not CDs are worth it depends on current market rates and personal factors, including your savings goals and appetite for risk.

Interest Rates Are High

The earning potential of a CD is tied to market interest rates. The higher interest rates rise, the more appealing CDs become as savings options. If you believe interest rates are peaking, buying a CD can help you lock in a high rate before it drops.

You Won't Need the Money Soon

Buying a CD can help you sock away cash for an upcoming expense, such as a wedding or a down payment on a home. You'll earn a modest amount of interest on your savings.

You may also find it easier to avoid dipping funds you've earmarked for the future if you keep them in CDs, rather than in your regular savings account.

You Want a Safe Investment

Buying a CD exposes you to less financial risk than investing in the stock market. Assuming the financial institution holding the CD is FDIC- or NCUA-insured, you generally can't lose money with a CD.

However, you may lose some or all of the earned interest if you withdraw your money before the CD matures.

You Want to Diversify Your Portfolio

Purchasing a CD with a high interest rate can help diversify your investment portfolio, balancing out riskier investments such as stocks and helping you keep pace with inflation.

Learn more: CD Rates Forecast

When CDs May Not Be Worth It

Rates Are Low

CDs can be attractive when rates peak. But in a low-rate environment, other fixed-income investments, such as bonds, may offer better returns.

You're Saving for an Emergency

CDs aren't as ideal for housing money you could need at any moment, such as an emergency fund. Even short-term CDs could be too restrictive if you need cash unexpectedly, because cashing out your CDs early means paying penalties.

You're Saving for Retirement

A retirement portfolio should balance growth and income assets to build wealth over time. More volatile assets, such as stocks, have the potential to earn much higher returns than CDs. Usually, CDs are best as a way to save toward short- or medium-term goals, such as a major purchase in a few years.

The best place to save for retirement is typically in a tax-advantaged account, such as a 401(k) or an individual retirement account (IRA). You can choose account asset allocations geared toward growing wealth or preserving money, depending on how long you have until retirement.

On the other hand, some investors use CDs as they approach and enter retirement as a way to structure a steady inflow of cash. As an example, retirement accounts generally require you to take out a yearly required minimum distribution (RMD) once you reach age 73. A CD could be a smart place to deposit your RMD and earn some interest if you don't need the money right away.

Learn more: Should You Use CDs for Retirement Planning?

Alternatives to CDs

While CDs have some perks, they aren't the right fit for every investor. Consider these alternative ways to earn interest on your savings.

High-Yield Savings Account

With rates higher than you'll see from traditional savings accounts, high-yield savings accounts can be a good option for earning more interest without sacrificing liquidity. That can make them a good option for your emergency fund, for example.

You can find high-yield savings accounts with no fees and low or no minimum balance or minimum deposit requirements.

Money Market Account

A money market account is like a hybrid of a checking and savings account that typically offers higher interest rates than traditional savings accounts. Unlike other types of savings accounts, money market accounts let you write a limited number of checks each year. You may also be able to access your money with a debit card.

You may need to come up with a minimum deposit to open a money market account. Some accounts also require you to maintain a minimum balance to avoid fees, and allow only a certain number of withdrawals each month.

Bonds

Like CDs, bonds are a relatively safe investment with modest returns. Apart from that, the two have different features. Bonds are a type of debt security, rather than a deposit account. Bonds often have higher returns than CDs, but money you invest in bonds isn't backed by the FDIC (though U.S. government-backed bonds are equally as safe).

There are different types of bonds with different benefits to consider. For example, municipal bonds offer tax exemptions that can increase your overall returns, while Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS), a type of U.S. Treasury bond designed to protect your savings from inflation.

How CD Returns Stack Up

Looking at APYs is a good way to ensure you're comparing apples to apples when weighing your savings or investment options.

As of August 2024, CD rates ranged from 0.23% to 1.85%, according to data from the FDIC. The best average rates were for 12-month CDs.

That said, you can find higher rates if you shop around. Certain financial institutions offer higher rates than others, and a larger deposit may correspond to a higher rate.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Bottom Line

While keeping some of your savings in CDs can be a good tactic, be sure you're tailoring your investing strategy to your overall goals. CDs can help you lock in yields when rates are high, and they shelter your money from the volatility of the stock market. They offer stable returns with guaranteed rates, FDIC insurance and different lengths of maturities to choose from.

That can make them a good pick for saving for upcoming purchases, but less suited to growing your money toward far-off goals, such as retirement. A financial advisor can help you balance your short- and long-term investing goals and help you choose the best financial products for your individual situation.