DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Americans were paid an additional $235 billion in interest in 2023, thanks to the Fed
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Jeanne Sahadi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

High-yield savings accountsThe average interest rate on regular bank savings accounts is roughly 0.5% but can run as low as 0.01% at the biggest banks. By contrast, the average on high-yield savings accounts is well over 4%, according to DepositAccounts.com. If you leave it parked in a regular savings account at 0.5%, you’ll get $50 in interest for a year. As with any savings account, banks can lower the rate they offer — also known as the APY — at any time. Money market accounts and money market fundsAlthough money market deposit accounts and money market mutual funds are both generating yields competitive with the best high-yield savings accounts, there are important differences.

Persons: —, It’s, ”, Greg McBride, you’ll, McBride, “, ” McBride, Ben Bakkum, Collin Martin, Martin Organizations: New, New York CNN, Federal Reserve, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, FDIC, National Credit Union Share Insurance, Securities Investor Protection Corporation, Treasury, Fed, Schwab Center, Financial Research Locations: New York, Schwab.com, United States

☆ How to make high interest rates work for your hard-earned savings
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-20 | by ( Jeanne Sahadi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

However, that won’t happen if you just let it sit in a traditional checking or savings account that yields next to nothing. High-yield online savings accountsThe average annual percentage yield on bank savings accounts was just 0.52% as of March 13, according to Bankrate. As with any bank savings rate, high-yield savings account rates can change overnight, and the bank may not alert you when it lowers it. But don’t confuse money market accounts with money market mutual funds, which invest in short-term, low-risk debt instruments. Unlike money market deposit accounts, money market mutual funds are not insured by the FDIC.

Persons: ”, Ted Rossman, ” Rossman, Ken Tumin, Schwab, you’d, Tumin, Doug Ornstein, Andy Smith, Ornstein, doesn’t, ” Smith Organizations: New York CNN, Bankrate, JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Fidelity, TIAA Wealth Management, FDIC, Securities Investor Protection Corp, Edelman, AAA Locations: New York, Wells Fargo, United States

☆ Where to lock down high interest rates for your savings
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Jeanne Sahadi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

High-yield online savings accountsThe average annual percentage yield on bank savings accounts was just 0.57% on January 30, according to a Bankrate survey. But many online FDIC-insured banks are still offering 5% or more on their high-yield savings accounts. As with any bank savings rate, high-yield savings account rates can change overnight, and the bank may not alert you when it lowers it. But don’t confuse money market accounts with money market mutual funds, which invest in short-term, low-risk debt instruments. Unlike money market deposit accounts, money market mutual funds are not insured by the FDIC.

Persons: Doug Ornstein, Schwab, “, ”, Greg McBride, Ken Tumin, you’d, Tumin, Wells Fargo, Andy Smith, Ornstein, doesn’t, ” Smith Organizations: New York CNN, Federal Reserve, JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, TIAA Wealth Management, FDIC, Securities Investor Protection Corp, Fidelity, DepositAccounts.com, Treasury, Edelman, AAA Locations: New York, United States

☆ You can now invest in bitcoin ETFs. But should you?
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-11 | by ( Jeanne Sahadi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The Securities and Exchange Commission on Wednesday gave the green light to the listing and trading of 11 bitcoin exchange-traded funds, or ETFs. Understand what bitcoin is … and what it isn’tIt’s important to grasp what kind of asset bitcoin is. Plus, bitcoin ETFs will make it easier for financial advisers to access the cryptocurrency for their clients who can afford to invest in alternative asset classes. Deciding if a bitcoin ETF makes sense for youThe investment firms that have received approval to offer bitcoin ETFs are competing fiercely for investor dollars. And if you normally invest on a platform that automatically rebalances your portfolio for you, make sure the system does not rebalance your holdings based on your bitcoin investment.

Persons: New York CNN —, Bitcoin, bitcoin, Fidelity, Chainanalysis, Sam Bankman, ” Alex Michalka, Wealthfront, ”, Bryan Armour, … It’s, It’s, ” Armour, Alex Lozano, Lozano, “, Trent D, Porter, ” Porter Organizations: New, New York CNN, New York CNN — It’s, The Securities, Exchange Commission, Wednesday, SEC, US, Fidelity, New York Times, Securities Investor Protection Corporation, NASDAQ, NYSE, Morningstar, Better, ” Locations: New York, bitcoin, United States

Money market funds, on the other hand — while also generally safe — are a bit riskier, experts said. Investors who prefer money market funds may opt for government money market funds, which carry slightly less risk, Elliott said. YieldMoney market funds tend to pay a slightly higher interest rate relative to high-yield savings accounts, Elliott said. TaxesInterest income for both high-yield savings and money funds is taxed as regular income, experts said. However, some money market funds may carry tax benefits, said Eric Bronnenkant, head of tax at Betterment.

Persons: Kamila Elliott, Elliott, Greg McBride, They've, McBride, Treasurys —, Eric Bronnenkant, Bronnenkant Organizations: Wealth Partners, CNBC, Bankrate, Federal Reserve, Deposit Insurance Corporation, Treasury, Lehman, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, Investor Protection Corporation, Investors, Data, Federal, Consumers, U.S Locations: Atlanta

☆ How protected is your money in accounts outside of banks?
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( Jeanne Sahadi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Spoiler alert: You likely have at least some protection in all but your crypto accounts. There are several types of deposit accounts you may have at one bank (e.g., individual savings account, joint checking, business account, etc.) NCUA, which is backed by the full faith and credit of the US government, covers accounts up to $250,000, in much the same way the FDIC covers bank accounts. Crypto accountsIf you invest in crypto assets you have no federally guaranteed protections should the company acting as custodian of your assets go under. Even if you’re holding your crypto assets at a firm that is an SEC-registered broker-dealer and it is a member of SIPC, your crypto assets will not receive SIPC protection.

☆ FDIC coverage limits may be raised above $250,000 again. How experts say you can have more of your deposits insured
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-27 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Experts say there are still ways to gain FDIC coverage even if you are over that $250,000 limit. Citizens Bank of Edmond offers additional coverage, with a limit of $150 million per depositor, through IntraFi Network. "If you're able to use IntraFi, then you don't necessarily have to go to another bank to get another $250,000," Castilla said. Jill Castilla CEO of Citizens Bank of EdmondBecause the bank's average deposit is typically $25,000, Citizens Bank of Edmond does not use the amplified coverage often, Castilla said. Add beneficiaries to your accountAnother way of getting more than $250,000 in coverage for your deposits is to add beneficiaries.

☆ Yellen says uninsured deposits may be at risk in future bank failures. Here’s how FDIC coverage works
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

How FDIC coverage worksThe limit for FDIC coverage is $250,000 per depositor, per bank, in each account ownership category. The majority of Americans are going to be covered by FDIC insurance. For example, a married couple with a business may have up to $250,000 insured in an account in one spouse's name, up to $250,000 insured in an account in the other spouse's name and up to $250,000 insured in a business account. How to check, boost FDIC protectionIf you want to know whether your deposits are FDIC-insured, check your bank statement, Jenkin said. Not all accounts provide FDIC coverage, Jenkin noted.

Thousands of no-transaction-fee mutual funds and fee-free mutual funds Check mark icon A check mark. Pros Check mark icon A check mark. Thousands of no-load mutual funds and 50+ Schwab-managed funds; fractional shares (Stock slices) available Check mark icon A check mark. Free stock, option, ETF, and cryptocurrency trades; 1.5% APY on uninvested cash for non-Gold users and 3% for Gold members Check mark icon A check mark. Competitive mobile and online offerings for digital investors and traders Check mark icon A check mark.

☆ What Is a Robo Advisor, and Do I Need One?
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-16 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: +9 min

That’s where a robo advisor can help. A robo advisor is a digital, automated service that makes investing easy because it picks securities for you. How to start investing with a robo advisorGetting started investing with a robo advisor is designed to be easy. Robo advisor accounts are well-suited for anyone who is comfortable being online but needs a nudge to invest and would rather not do it themselves or doesn’t have the means to hire an individual financial advisor. Betterment and Wealthfront, for example, offer savings accounts, which pay substantially more than traditional bank savings accounts, as well as checking accounts and debit cards.

☆ As BlockFi files for bankruptcy, what to know about crypto investor protections
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

The ongoing FTX fallout — and bankruptcies earlier this year for lenders Celsius Network and Voyager Digital — is teaching crypto investors a hard lesson about their protections relative to more traditional asset classes. Howey Co., established the so-called Howey test to determine what constitutes a security, or "investment contract." More on how the Howey test works can be found below. Here's why this is important for crypto: It's unclear in many cases if digital assets are an "investment contract" under the 76-year-old Howey test. The Securities Investor Protection Corporation insures investors for up to $500,000 in the event a brokerage firm liquidates and their holdings are tied up in the insolvent firm.

☆ Why protections for crypto investors are linked to orange groves
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

watch nowHow orange groves impact crypto protectionsThe reason why largely hinges on a 1946 Supreme Court case about investors in Florida orange groves. Howey Co. — established the so-called Howey test to determine what constitutes a security, or "investment contract." (More on how the Howey test works can be found below.) Here's why this is important for crypto: It's unclear in many cases if digital assets are an "investment contract" under the 76-year-old Howey test. Why the 'security' distinction mattersThe Howey test has four parts to determine if something like bitcoin is an "investment contract."

☆ Beware: The companies that hold your crypto aren’t insured the way banks are
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-13 | by ( Jeanne Sahadi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

But now, in the wake of crypto exchange FTX’s implosion, crypto investors were reminded of another risk they face: Crypto accounts lack guaranteed protections when the exchange or platform provider goes belly up. But most banks and brokerages, as well as 401(k) plans, do provide federally guaranteed protections and other insurance. What’s more, customers may unwittingly agree to let the company running an exchange or platform use their digital assets. Bank and credit union accountsIf you have a checking or savings account, a money market deposit account or certificates of deposit at a bank or credit union, make sure the institution has deposit insurance. There are several types of deposit accounts you may have at one bank (e.g., personal account, business account, etc.)

No minimums; commission-free trading on stocks, ETFs, and options Check mark icon A check mark. Thousands of no-load mutual funds and 50+ Schwab-managed funds; fractional shares (Stock slices) available Check mark icon A check mark. Free stock, option, ETF, and cryptocurrency trades; 1.5% APY on uninvested cash Check mark icon A check mark. Competitive mobile and online offerings for digital investors and traders Check mark icon A check mark. International trading opportunities Check mark icon A check mark.

☆ Kidder Peabody CEO Ralph DeNunzio, Surrounded by Giants, Gave Up Firm’s Independence
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-23 | by ( James R. Hagerty | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Ralph DeNunzio was chairman of the New York Stock Exchange and ran Kidder Peabody. Shortly after graduating from Princeton University in 1953, Ralph DeNunzio joined the Wall Street securities firm Kidder, Peabody & Co. and began a swift rise in the industry. In 1970, he headed a task force that helped lay the groundwork for legislation creating the Securities Investor Protection Corp. to help shield customers from losses when securities firms go bust. He was named chairman of the New York Stock Exchange, for a one-year term, in 1971 and helped overhaul governance of the market.

It's important to make sure you can trust an investment app before you start using it. See Insider's guide to the best investment apps for beginners »Get the latest tips you need to manage your money — delivered to you biweekly. Before you start placing trades, you should have a sense of whether you can trust an investment app with your money. Here are more details on the warning signs to look out for when searching for an investment app. It's not transparent about how it makes moneyMost investment apps offer fee transparency and/or disclosures that detail where their compensation comes from.

Search resuls for: "Securities Investor Protection Corp"

16 mentions found