Whether you’re saving to buy your dream home or you’re investing in your child’s future, saving money each month is a smart financial decision. But where should you put your savings to get the best return?
Some prefer to invest their savings in a credit union certificate, which is the equivalent of a Certificate of Deposit (CD). Opening a certificate is an easy and safe way to save money, often allowing you to get a better return on your investment than you’d receive through a savings share or account.
If you’re wondering if a certificate is a good option for your situation, read on to learn more about certificates, types of CDs offered by other financial institutions, and what you may want to consider before making this type of investment.
A certificate is a low-risk option to invest your money in. Certificates hold your savings for a predetermined amount of time — anywhere from a few months to several years — while they accumulate dividends. The money typically must stay in the share until the maturity date to avoid an early withdrawal penalty.
Because a certificate is a type of savings share, the two function somewhat similarly. Like a savings share, you can put funds you won’t need immediate access to into the certificate and watch your balance grow over time. However, you’ll also find several differences between certificates and traditional savings shares. Certificates offer a higher yield and usually require a higher minimum deposit — at PSECU, for example, you would need a minimum deposit of $500 to open a certificate.
Many investors consider certificates and CDs to be one of the safest investment options. Certificates provided by credit unions, like PSECU, are insured up to $250,000* by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). As with a traditional savings account, a CD from a bank is insured up to $250,000 by the FDIC.
Certificates and CDs — like any investment option — come with both benefits and risks. Be sure to do your research and carefully choose a product that best meets your needs and expectations. Also review any agreements and disclosures; these contain important information, such as the fund’s maturity date, whether the rate is variable or fixed, how often you’ll receive dividends or interest, and what penalties will occur if you withdraw your funds prematurely, to determine whether a certificate or CD is a safe and beneficial option for your situation.
Though not products PSECU offers, liquid, bump-up, and brokered CDs offer similar benefits to traditional CDs, but differ slightly in function.
1. Liquid CDs
Liquid CDs, also known as no-penalty CDs, which aren’t offered by PSECU, let you take money out of your account before the maturity date without penalty. Some institutions allow you to withdraw all of your funds, while others require you to keep a certain percentage of your deposit in the account to avoid a penalty fee.
Liquid CDs may be a good option if you’re worried about needing your funds before they reach maturity. However, you’ll typically earn less interest than you’d receive with a regular CD.
2. Bump-Up CDs
While traditional CDs offer one fixed interest rate, bump-up CDs, while not offered by PSECU, give you the option to increase your CD’s interest rate if it rises before your CD reaches maturity.
You can typically increase your rate one time over the life of the CD, so this option is ideal for investors who are willing to take the time to research the interest rate climate to choose the best time to bump up their CD’s interest.
3. Brokered CDs
While regular CDs are bought from credit unions or banks, brokered CDs, again, not offered by PSECU, can be purchased from a brokerage firm or other deposit broker. Deposit brokers can sometimes offer higher interest rates on CDs, but they are not certified or licensed by any state or federal agency.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission warns investors to check the background of any deposit broker before purchasing a brokered CD. That way, you have a better chance of avoiding a broker who has a history of fraud or customer complaints.
Because certificates and CDs usually can’t be accessed early without a penalty, the best candidates for these products are usually those whose primary goal is to preserve their capital with no investment risk.
Those who open certificates or CDs typically have a use in mind that matches the CD’s maturity date. For example, a long-term CD might help you increase the yield of your child’s future college fund, while a short-term CD can be ideal if you’ll need your money within the next year.
You may also benefit most from a certificate or CD if you can lock in a rate of return that’s higher than inflation. Otherwise, you risk inflation growing faster than your money and lowering your overall profit.
If you think a certificate is the best choice for your financial situation, we can help you make the most of your investment. With a certificate from PSECU, you can enjoy many benefits, such as:
Ready to get started? Open your certificate today, or contact us with any questions or for more information.
*All PSECU deposit shares, including checking, Regular, additional savings, money market and certificates, are federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) up to $250,000, the maximum allowed by law. In addition to the $250,000 of insurance provided on an individual account or combination of individual accounts, you are also insured up to $250,000 for any combination of accounts you may hold jointly with other individuals.