Cash, CD and savings guides
Plain-English guides to CD ladders, APY math, early-withdrawal penalties, FDIC coverage and building an emergency fund.
What Is a CD Ladder?
A clear explanation of CD ladders: why savers stagger certificate terms, how rolling works, and when a ladder beats a single CD or a savings account.
How CD Early-Withdrawal Penalties Work
Understand typical CD early-withdrawal penalties, how banks calculate them, and when breaking a CD still makes sense.
HYSA vs CD: Which Should You Choose?
A practical comparison of high-yield savings accounts and certificates of deposit: liquidity, rate lock, penalties and how to combine both.
How Much Emergency Fund Do You Need?
How to size an emergency fund from essential monthly spending, job stability and dependents — and where to keep the cash.
FDIC Insurance Basics for Savers
How FDIC deposit insurance works, the standard $250,000 limit, ownership categories and what is not covered.
How APY Works
Why APY is the fair way to compare savings and CD offers, how compounding enters the number, and common marketing traps.
CD Ladder Strategies Beyond the Basics
Compare classic, barbell and bullet CD strategies and when to roll maturing CDs into longer terms.
Where to Keep Cash in 2026
A practical map of cash parking options for US households: HYSAs, CDs, Treasury bills, money market funds and how they differ on risk and liquidity.