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Getting started - where to put cash portion of portfolio

Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2015 8:17 am
by SarahG
Can anyone give a few recommendations on where to put cash to get at least a decent return? Thanks.

Re: Getting started - where to put cash portion of portfolio

Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2015 9:15 am
by mathjak107
there is nothing .  cash is basically going to be about 1% or less

Re: Getting started - where to put cash portion of portfolio

Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2015 9:35 am
by goodasgold
Hi SarahG:

Welcome to the forum!

As for a place to store cash, you might try looking into I-Bonds. They are guaranteed to keep pace with inflation for 30 tax-deferred years, when they mature. This may not sound like a big advantage now when interest rates are at a record low, but more than a few of us expect inflation to come roaring back one of these days.

And you don't pay any state or local income tax when you cash them in. More details can be found via an Internet search, including ways to expand the annual limit on purchases.

So long,

Goodasgold

Re: Getting started - where to put cash portion of portfolio

Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2015 10:21 am
by dualstow
Hey, at least inflation is nil.

http://www.usinflationcalculator.com/

Re: Getting started - where to put cash portion of portfolio

Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2015 10:40 am
by SarahG
Yeah, I get it, the rates are abysmal. I'm just taking small steps in this process, so thought I'd start by moving some cash into something slightly less abysmal. Got this step. Thanks.

What do you recommend next for a newbie (after cash and gold)?

Thanks!

Re: Getting started - where to put cash portion of portfolio

Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2015 11:20 am
by koekebakker
Just checked my current yields:
Cash: 1.2% online savingsaccount
LT-bonds: 1.5% YTM.  :) Gotta love QE.

Inflation in the Netherlands is around 1% so I guess it's not th at bad, lol.

Re: Getting started - where to put cash portion of portfolio

Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2015 11:21 am
by SarahG
That's pretty "good" for online savings. I assume it is with a bank in NL?

Re: Getting started - where to put cash portion of portfolio

Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2015 11:27 am
by koekebakker
Yeah it is. Almost any savings account here has a higher yield than even 10-year treasuries. Strange times!

Re: Getting started - where to put cash portion of portfolio

Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2015 11:28 am
by Xan
I'm getting 1% at GE Capital Bank.

Re: Getting started - where to put cash portion of portfolio

Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2015 1:19 pm
by MachineGhost
SarahG wrote: Can anyone give a few recommendations on where to put cash to get at least a decent return? Thanks.
https://www.depositaccounts.com/savings/

Check CD's also.  I recommend a 5-year CD stack, i.e. five equal amount 5-year CD's that are breakable just in case you need the cash or rates go higher while you wait.

Re: Getting started - where to put cash portion of portfolio

Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2015 6:06 pm
by Fred
I put my cash into FSBAX on Fidelity (short term 1-3 years government bond fund recommended in Craig and MT's book for those willing to take a little more risk than treasury notes). But I'm thinking of putting it all in the best CD I can find. My parents did that with ALL their money and it worked out okay for them.

Re: Getting started - where to put cash portion of portfolio

Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2015 6:53 pm
by sophie
K.I.S.S.

Savings account at an online bank.  When you have enough to put some into "deep" cash, you've got several nice options:  US savings bonds, CDs, short term treasuries or T bills.  PP canonical choices would be limited to the savings bonds or Treasuries, but several people here make use of bank products.

Re: Getting started - where to put cash portion of portfolio

Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2015 7:57 pm
by ochotona
Ally Bank, 0.99%, it's their regular savings account. I have moved our checking over there, too.

Re: Getting started - where to put cash portion of portfolio

Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2015 6:54 am
by SarahG
ochotona wrote: Ally Bank, 0.99%, it's their regular savings account. I have moved our checking over there, too.
Great. Thanks.

Re: Getting started - where to put cash portion of portfolio

Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2015 6:56 am
by SarahG
Thanks for all the helpful tips! I have a good gauge on what I'll do for this portion of the PP. Now, I'll tackle the others.