Inertia is a powerful force – and if you're like most Americans – you're still earning almost nothing on your cash because of it.
According to Bankrate.com, the national average yield on savings and money market accounts are currently 0.09% and 0.15% respectively. Many of the largest banks (Bank of America, Chase, Citibank, HSBC, and Wells Fargo) are offering even less: 0.01%.
Source: bankrate.com.
What is the top savings rate offered today with FDIC Insurance? For the first time since 2008, it's over 2%…
Source: bankrate.com.
For your cash in investment accounts, Prime Money Market Mutual Funds are fast approaching 2% as well…
Source: barrons.com.
Why are yields moving higher? The Federal Reserve controls short-term interest rates, and at long last they are moving toward a more normal monetary policy. Since December 2015 they have hiked interest rates by 0.25% on 6 separate occasions and are expected to hike rates at least 2 more times before the end of this year.
So why would anyone still accept 0.01% when they could be earning 2.01%? Inertia. An object at rest stays at rest until acted on by an external force.
When the Federal Reserve held short-term interest rates near 0% during the 7 years of famine (December 2008 – December 2015), savers rested, likely assuming they would never earn a higher yield on their money again. But the times they are finally a changin'.
In the world of risky investing where outcomes are uncertain, earning 2% more on your money would typically require taking on more risk without any guarantee of a higher return. In the world of FDIC-insured savings (up to $250,000 per depositor. per bank, per account type), the opposite is true. If you're currently earning 0.01% you can bump that up to 2.01% without any additional risk.
So what are you waiting for? Get moving.