Now that the Federal Reserve has started lowering interest rates, you may find that 5% CDs are not as easy to obtain as they were earlier this year. But if you Shop around for a great CD rateyou may still be able to get a 5% return.


And even if that isn’t possible, many CDs pay close to 5%. If you can get a 4.75% APY on a 12-month, $5,000 CD, that’s $237.50 in interest you can earn (as opposed to $250 for a 5% CD, 12 months) – not too shabby.




But while you might think higher CD rates are something to celebrate, the unfortunate truth is that they also come with downsides. Here are a few pitfalls of 5% CDs you should know about.




1. Higher rates will only last for a limited time


Sure, you can score somewhere in the ballpark of 5% today on a 12-month CD. But what happens after those twelve months are over?




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CD rates will likely continue to decline as the Fed continues to cut rates. While you may be able to get a return you’re happy with in the short term, by this time next year you may not know what to do with your money.


That’s why you might want that invest your money to start with instead of putting it in a 5% CD. If you wait to invest, you could lose money in the long run.


Over the past fifty years, the S&P 500’s annual return has been 10%, representing both strong and weak years. Click here to view the top-rated brokerage accounts. If you start with $5,000 today and leave it alone for 25 years, you will have about $54,000 if your portfolio produces a 10% annual return during that time.


But if you wait even a year to invest that $5,000, you can grow your balance to about $49,000. That’s $5,000 less than what you could have had if you had started a year earlier.


So ask yourself: Is it worth giving up $5,000 to earn about $237 on a one-year CD? Probably not.


2. Higher CD rates usually mean higher interest rates


CD rates and loan rates often go hand in hand. It’s nice to make more money with a CD. But in return, you’re probably paying more right now for a personal loan, car loan, or virtually any loan you take out. And you may pay higher interest on the credit card balance you carry.


The good news is that if the Fed cuts rates, loan rates should fall. Admittedly, this also applies to CD rates. But you can still come out ahead financially if it costs you much less to take out a loan or pay off a credit card you owe money on.


3. If you withdraw early, the penalty may be greater


One disadvantage of CDs compared to savings accounts is that they usually charge an early withdrawal penalty if you withdraw your money before the maturity date. A savings account may earn you less interest, but it gives you penalty-free access to your money whenever you want.


The problem with 5% CDs, however, is that they can result in higher early withdrawal penalties. Suppose the penalty for early withdrawal from a 12-month CD from your bank is three months’ interest. If you earn 5% on a $5,000 12-month CD, you could potentially incur a $62.50 loss if you take your money out before your CD matures. And while that’s not a life-changing sum of money, it’s a sum big enough to get angry about.


If you have money that you want to grow in the short term, a CD is a smart bet – even better than an investment account, which requires time to beat the stock market. setbacks. And if you decide a CD is right for you, it pays to lock in the highest rate possible.


But don’t be too disappointed if the 5% CD rates start to disappear, as there are some downsides to such high rates.



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