Best Places to Save Money and Earn Interest

The best place to save your money largely depends on your financial goals, risk tolerance, timeline for needing access to the funds, and current financial situation.

Timeline: How quickly do you need access to your funds?

• If you need immediate or frequent access, a high-yield savings account or checking account might be suitable.
• If you can commit your money for a fixed period, a CD could offer higher interest rates.

Savings Goals: What are you saving for?

• Short-term goals (emergency fund, upcoming purchase) might benefit from easily accessible accounts like savings or checking.
• Long-term goals (retirement, college) might favor retirement accounts (IRAs, 401(k)) for tax benefits and potential for higher returns.

Risk Tolerance: How comfortable are you with potential fluctuations in value?

• Savings accounts and CDs offer low risk but lower returns.
• Investment accounts like IRAs and taxable investment accounts offer potentially higher returns but also carry higher risk.

For Emergency Funds or Short-Term Goals (within 1-3 years):

• High-Yield Savings Accounts: Ideal for emergency funds due to their liquidity and relatively higher interest rates compared to traditional savings accounts.
• Money Market Accounts: Suitable for those who want a combination of a decent yield with the safety and liquidity to access funds relatively easily. Early withdrawal penalties apply, making them unsuitable for savings you might need immediately or unexpectedly.

If you want to see how much interest you can earn in a savings account, use our high yield savings account calculator.

For Mid-Term Goals (3-10 years):

• Certificates of Deposit (CDs): Better for money that you won’t need immediately, offering higher interest rates for longer lock-in periods. Early withdrawal penalties apply, making them unsuitable for savings you might need immediately or unexpectedly.
• Bonds or Bond Funds: Can provide a steady stream of income and tend to be less volatile than stocks, suitable for mid-term investment horizons.

For Long-Term Goals (more than 10 years), especially Retirement:

• Stock Market Investments through IRAs, 401(k)s, or Taxable Accounts: Ideal for long-term growth, offering potentially higher returns that can outpace inflation, suitable for retirement savings.
• Roth IRAs: Provide tax-free growth and withdrawals in retirement, making them excellent for long-term savings where tax rates may be unpredictable.
• 529 Plans: Excellent for saving for college expenses, offering tax advantages and high contribution limits.

For Health-Related Savings:

• Health Savings Accounts (HSAs): Best for individuals with high-deductible health plans. Contributions are tax-deductible, earnings grow tax-free, and distributions for qualified medical expenses are also tax-free.